SPAWAR reorganizes with division HQ in Charleston

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Centers in Charleston, Norfolk and New Orleans today consolidated into a streamlined Atlantic division, with Charleston as its headquarters.

The new organization of the centers, better known as SPAWAR, was called for by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. The change takes effect today following special joint ceremonies among several SPAWAR sites.

SPAWAR provides information technology and space systems to the Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies. The reorganization separates all SPAWAR sites into two divisions, Atlantic and Pacific. The change is meant to make management of the various centers more efficient, officials said.

The SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic division is under the command of Capt. Bruce Urbon, who has been the commanding officer of the SPAWAR site in Charleston since July.

Both the Atlantic and Pacific divisions of SPAWAR report to a “corporate” headquarters office in San Diego, Calif.

The location of the Atlantic headquarters in Charleston reflects the key role the site plays within SPAWAR and the support it provides to the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies, said Steven Davis, a spokesman for SPAWAR offices in San Diego.

The newly formed Atlantic division has around 2,875 government employees, 129 military personnel and more than 9,000 industry partners.

In addition to the consolidated Charleston, Norfolk and New Orleans sites, the Atlantic division also includes SPAWAR sites in Washington, D.C., Tidewater, Va., and Pensacola and Tampa, Fla., and satellite offices in Europe, the Middle East and Antarctica.