A Missile Defense “Center of Excellence”

Conn Carroll / March 05, 2009

Last night, at a screening of the missile defense documentary 33 Minutes in Fredericksburg, Virginia the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead announced that the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren Naval Support Facility will host the new Navy Air and Missile Defense Command.

The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reports:

Roughead said that with growing missile threats from countries such as Iran and North Korea, the command will serve as the Navy’s lead organization and as a “center of excellence” to address combined air and missile defense concerns.

The initial focus will be on detecting, tracking, intercepting and destroying ballistic missiles. Eventually, it will encompass the Navy’s entire integrated air and missile defense.

Also noted by the Star:

The new command will begin in April with 75 military and civilian employees combined, and an annual payroll of about $10 million.