SPAWAR has more than $1.4 billion economic impact in ’05

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston had an economic impact on the tri-county area of more than $1.4 billion in 2005 from its various communications, reconnaissance and command and control projects, according to SPAWAR.

SPAWAR defines “economic impact” as “total goods and services purchased on the local economy,” inclusive of civilian contractor employee patrol.

“The numbers show that the work we do is important to the war on terror, and we couldn’t do it without our industry partners,” said Marsha L. Hassell, spokeswoman for SPAWAR Charleston.

SPAWAR’s engineers work with local contractors to develop high-tech solutions for the military command’s needs.

Last year, according to figures released by SPAWAR on Wednesday, the facilities staff included 17 active military duty personnel, comprising a total payroll of $918,072, and 1,486 civilian employees, whose appropriated payroll amounted to more than $106 million.

The average civilian employee salary at SPAWAR is now $71,520.

According to SPAWAR, its local civilian contractors employed 8,482 in 2005, with the total civilian contractor payroll being more than $831 million.