Who We Are:
The Navy's Source for Fleet Readiness
Located in Port Hueneme, Calif., Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) employs more than 2,500 engineers, scientists, technicians, logisticians, and support personnel who provide America's Naval surface fleet with integration, test, and evaluation, life-cycle engineering, and product support for today's and tomorrow's warfare systems.
Our Heritage:
Established in 1963, NSWC PHD, then known as the Naval Ship Missile Systems Engineering Station, began its legacy of in-service engineering by providing technical support for newly deployed terrier-, talos-, and tartar-guided missiles. The command opened for business with six military, 38 civil service, and 14 contractor personnel to support 45 ships with a total of 124 systems.
The newly established organization emphasized onboard assistance to ship crews, fully understood the operational environment, analyzed problems and requirements, and developed engineering and logistics improvements for guided missile systems.
By 1972, the command's name changed to Naval Ship Weapon Systems Engineering Station, reflecting the expansion of its responsibilities beyond missiles, as it assumed work for many new shipboard combat and weapon systems, provided integrated product support to the fleet, and became the test site and home for the Navy's underway replenishment program.
In 1992, it became NSWC PHD, named after the small beach-side city in Ventura County, where it is located. Today, the command consists of three sites - Port Hueneme, Virginia Beach, and White Sands - and focuses on the future of naval technologies, ensuring America's fleet receives optimal support.