Naval Support Activity Panama City
Encyclopedia
The United States Naval Support Activity Panama City (NSA PC), is located just outside Panama City, Florida
and is a United States Navy
military base. It is located within Bay County
. Among other commands, it houses Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) and the Navy Experimental Diving Unit
(NEDU).
, but was renamed ca. 1955 to the U.S. Navy Mine Defense Laboratory. In 1972, it was renamed the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory. The base has been a subsidiary of several other commands in the past including Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division
, and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
, under which it was designated Naval Surface Warfare Center: Coastal Systems Station. It obtained its current name in 2007 after changing from the prior command structure to the tenant command structure used by the Navy
today in its command of research and development centers.
warfare-related areas and pursues scientific disciplines including optics
, acoustics
, mine warfare
and robotics
. NSWC PCD employs approximately 1100 scientists & engineers within NSWC PCD The newest facility on the base for research is the Littoral Warfare Research Facility, a $10 million research & development facility dedicated to littoral warfare research, and completed in 2006.
Engineering projects of historical note include the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC
). Current projects include the majority of US research into hovercraft
technology and weapons integration for the Littoral Combat Ship
(LCS). Work also includes research for the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS)
.
with an annual payroll of about $117 million. NSA PC employs approximately 2800 civilian
and military
personnel, for an annual payroll of over $150 million. NSA PC contracts services, buys local goods, and maintains an active construction program. Its economic impact on Bay County is about $400 million annually.
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
and is a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
military base. It is located within Bay County
Bay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
. Among other commands, it houses Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) and the Navy Experimental Diving Unit
United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit
The United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit is the primary source of diving and hyperbaric operational guidance for the US Navy...
(NEDU).
History
The NSA PC was founded as the U.S. Navy Mine Countermeasures Station on July 20, 1945, as a result of the transfer of the test station from Solomons, MarylandSolomons, Maryland
Solomons is a community and census-designated place in Calvert County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,536 at the 2000 census...
, but was renamed ca. 1955 to the U.S. Navy Mine Defense Laboratory. In 1972, it was renamed the Naval Coastal Systems Laboratory. The base has been a subsidiary of several other commands in the past including Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division
Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division
The Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, located in Potomac, Maryland, specializes in ship acoustics and stealth technology. Another area of focus is hydromechanics....
, and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
The United States Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division , named for Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren, is located in Dahlgren, Virginia and is part of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The NSWCDD was founded as the U.S...
, under which it was designated Naval Surface Warfare Center: Coastal Systems Station. It obtained its current name in 2007 after changing from the prior command structure to the tenant command structure used by the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
today in its command of research and development centers.
Tenant Commands
NSAPC consists of several tenant command organizations:- Naval Surface Warfare Center: Panama City Division (NSWC PCD): This is the largest tenant command and the Research and DevelopmentResearch and developmentThe phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
arm of the base. It is part of the NAVSEANaval Sea Systems CommandThe Naval Sea Systems Command is the largest of the U.S. Navy's five "systems commands," or materiel organizations...
System of Naval Surface Warfare CenterNaval Surface Warfare CenterThe Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers are composed of the Naval Surface Warfare Centers and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center . They operate in a seamless, integrated manner, and they collaborate with customers using a common work assignment process to get the right work to the right...
s. - Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU)United States Navy Experimental Diving UnitThe United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit is the primary source of diving and hyperbaric operational guidance for the US Navy...
: The Experimental Diving Unit is the evaluation facility for Navy Diving. These divers are trained for such missions as wreckage recovery, mine defusing, and reconnaissance. - Navy Diving Salvage and Training Center: The Navy Diving Salvage Training Center is the training facility for Navy Diving. These divers are trained for such missions as wreckage recovery, mine defusing, and reconnaissance.
- Deployable Joint Command and Control System
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment
- Coastal Operations Institute
Research
NSWC PCD conducts basic and applied research in all littoralLittoral
The littoral zone is that part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from the high water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes this intertidal zone and is often used to...
warfare-related areas and pursues scientific disciplines including optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
, acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
, mine warfare
Mine warfare
Mine warfare refers to the use of different types of explosive devices:*Land mine, a weight-triggered explosive device intended to maim or kill people or to destroy vehicles...
and robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
. NSWC PCD employs approximately 1100 scientists & engineers within NSWC PCD The newest facility on the base for research is the Littoral Warfare Research Facility, a $10 million research & development facility dedicated to littoral warfare research, and completed in 2006.
Engineering projects of historical note include the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle and Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC
LCAC
The Landing Craft Air Cushion is a class of air-cushion vehicle used as landing craft by the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force...
). Current projects include the majority of US research into hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
technology and weapons integration for the Littoral Combat Ship
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
(LCS). Work also includes research for the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS)
Geography
NSA PC totals 657 acres (2.7 km²) and houses 221 buildings. Additionally, NSA PC operates several miles of inter coastal waterways for a direct connection to the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
Economic impact
NSWC PCD is a major research, development, test and evaluation laboratories of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). It is one of the largest employers in Bay County, FloridaBay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
with an annual payroll of about $117 million. NSA PC employs approximately 2800 civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
and military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
personnel, for an annual payroll of over $150 million. NSA PC contracts services, buys local goods, and maintains an active construction program. Its economic impact on Bay County is about $400 million annually.