Long Beach

Capt. Kevin M. Healey, 46, took command of the growing Long Beach Naval Station Wednesday, replacing Capt. Don H. Barnhart, who oversaw a multimillion-dollar modernization program during his two years in Long Beach.

Healey inherits a command that, under Barnhart, expanded from 8,000 to 12,200 sailors and from 14 to 23 ships.

He takes control of a construction and refurbishing program that since January, 1983, has included $20 million in pier repairs, ground breaking for a new Naval Exchange and commissary, and construction of 200 housing units in Seal Beach.

Altogether, $40 million in construction contracts have been approved and the work will be done within the next year or two, said Public Affairs Officer Ron Brewington.

The Navy estimates that the Naval Station will have 16,400 sailors and 31 ships by 1989, Brewington said.

Healey comes to Long Beach from a post as executive assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for plans, policy and operations in Washington, D.C.

Barnhart, 47, a specialist in finance, has been assigned to the naval Military Personnel Command in Arlington, Va.