United States Navy systems commands

{{short description|Materiel agencies of the United States Department of the Navy}} The '''systems commands''', abbreviated as '''SysCom''' or '''SYSCOM''', are the [[materiel]] agencies of the [[United States Department of the Navy]], responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of military systems such as ships, aircraft, facilities, and weapons. The systems commands replaced the [[United States Navy bureau system|Navy bureau system]] in 1966 and report to the [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)|Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ASN(RDA) Overall Structure |url=https://www.secnav.navy.mil/rda/Pages/ASNRDAOrgChart.aspx |website=Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref> The current Navy systems commands are:

*[[Naval Sea Systems Command]] (NAVSEA) *[[Naval Air Systems Command]] (NAVAIR) *[[Naval Information Warfare Systems Command]] (NAVWAR) (formerly SPAWAR), *[[Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command]] (NAVFAC) *[[Naval Supply Systems Command]] (NAVSUP) *[[Marine Corps Systems Command]] (MCSC)

The [[Office of Naval Research]] is sometimes grouped with the systems commands, although it has a different mission geared towards scientific research rather than weapon systems development and acquisition.<ref name=SBIR>{{Cite web|url = https://www.navysbir.com/syscoms.htm|title = Navy SBIR / STTR Program|access-date = 23 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Department of the Navy}}</ref>

==Function and organization==

Each of the systems commands provides full life-cycle support for a specific category of military hardware or software, including research and development, design, procurement, testing, repair, and in-service engineering and logistics support. NAVSEA is concerned with [[Naval ship|ships]] and [[Submarine|submarines]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.navsea.navy.mil/AboutNAVSEA.aspx|title = About NAVSEA|access-date = 23 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008064731/http://www.navsea.navy.mil/AboutNAVSEA.aspx|archive-date = 8 October 2014|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref> NAVAIR [[Naval aviation|naval aircraft]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.display&key=92CEA25F-AD6C-4EA4-9953-CCCD3C4F9581|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100307084220/http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.display&key=92CEA25F-AD6C-4EA4-9953-CCCD3C4F9581|url-status = dead|archive-date = March 7, 2010|title = About us|access-date = 23 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Air Systems Command}}</ref><ref name="GSO NAVAIR" /> NAVWAR [[Command and control|information technology]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pages/AboutUs.aspx |url-status = dead|title = About us|access-date = 23 August 2014|archive-date = 26 August 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140826160826/http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pages/AboutUs.aspx|publisher = U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command }}</ref><ref name=":7" /> NAVFAC [[Naval base|facilities]] and expeditionary,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.navfac.navy.mil/about_us.html|archive-url = https://archive.today/20140823175630/http://www.navfac.navy.mil/about_us.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = August 23, 2014|title = About us|access-date = 23 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> NAVSUP [[Military supply-chain management|supply chain management]],<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/capabilities|archive-url = https://archive.today/20140823175630/https://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/capabilities|url-status = dead|archive-date = August 23, 2014|title = Capabilities|access-date = 23 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Supply Command}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/navsup.htm|title = Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)|date = 5 July 2011|access-date = 24 October 2014|publisher = GlobalSecurity.org}}</ref> and MCSC the specific equipment of the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]].<ref name=":3" />

While each systems command is directly subordinate in the military chain of command to the [[Chief of Naval Operations|chief of naval operations]] (or, in the case of MCSC, the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|commandant of the Marine Corps]]), the rank of their commanders varies. As of 2014, NAVAIR and NAVSEA are each led by a [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]];<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url = http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.display&key=C0FB7C92-AF6C-4780-B3F1-C492D2084434|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100307084229/http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.display&key=C0FB7C92-AF6C-4780-B3F1-C492D2084434|url-status = dead|archive-date = March 7, 2010|title = Commander, Naval Air Systems Command|access-date = 22 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Air Systems Command}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url = http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Leadership.aspx|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110504171613/http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Leadership.aspx|url-status = dead|archive-date = May 4, 2011|title = Leadership|access-date = 22 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command}}</ref> NAVWAR, NAVFAC, and NAVSUP are each led by a [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]];<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url = http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Press/Biographies/Pages/Commander.aspx|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100623012105/http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Press/Biographies/Pages/Commander.aspx|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 23, 2010|title = Brady, Patrick, Rear Admiral: NIWC Commander|access-date = 22 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.navfac.navy.mil/about_us/key_leadership.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140606043912/http://navfac.navy.mil/about_us/key_leadership.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 6, 2014|title = Key Leadership|access-date = 22 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = http://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/ourteam/bios|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101207062015/https://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/ourteam/bios|url-status = dead|archive-date = December 7, 2010|title = Command Biographies|access-date = 22 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command}}</ref> and MCSC is led by a [[Brigadier General(United States)|Brigadier General]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url = http://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/Leaders.aspx|title = MCSC Leaders|access-date = 22 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command|archive-date = 13 July 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140713110401/http://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/Leaders.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref> In addition, the commanders of NAVFAC and NAVSUP are the highest-ranking members of two of the eight Navy [[United States Navy staff corps|staff corps]], the [[Civil Engineer Corps]] and [[Navy Supply Corps|Supply Corps]] respectively,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/communitymanagers/StaffCorps/Pages/default.aspx|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714100603/http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/communitymanagers/StaffCorps/Pages/default.aspx|url-status = dead|archive-date = July 14, 2011|title = Staff Corps|access-date = 23 August 2014|publisher = U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel}}</ref> while all the other commanders are [[line officer]]s.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> Ultimate responsibility for procurement lies with the civilian [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)]] in the Department of the Navy through several [[Program executive officer|Program Executive Officers]]. Each oversees a specific acquisition program such as PEO Aircraft Carriers or PEO [[Joint Strike Fighter program|Joint Strike Fighter]] through operational agreements with the systems commands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/cno.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=24 October 2014|date=5 July 2011}}</ref>

Some of the systems commands contain "warfare centers" directed towards [[Science policy of the United States#Defense research and development|Research, Development, Test & Evaluation]] (RDT&E) of the systems procured by their parent systems commands. These are the [[Naval Air Warfare Center]] (in NAVAIR), [[Naval Surface Warfare Center]], [[Naval Undersea Warfare Center]] (both in NAVSEA), NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC), and [[Naval Information Warfare Center]], [[Naval Information Warfare Systems Command|Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center]] (in NAVWAR).<ref>{{Cite book|title = NRL Fact Book|publisher = U.S. Naval Research Laboratory|year = 2014|location = Washington, DC|pages = 2|url = http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/publications/fact-book/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100225132336/http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/publications/fact-book/|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 25, 2010}}</ref> The systems commands also fund external research by small businesses through the Navy portion of the [[Small Business Innovation Research]] program.<ref name=SBIR/>

==History== In 1966, the four Navy [[materiel]] bureaus were disestablished and replaced with six systems commands:

*[[Bureau of Yards and Docks]] was replaced with Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)<ref name=":8">{{cite web|title=Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/navfac.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=22 August 2014|date=5 July 2011}}</ref> *[[Bureau of Supplies and Accounts]] was replaced with Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)<ref>{{cite web|title=Bureau of Supplies and Accounts|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/rosters/supplies.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624092721/http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/rosters/supplies.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|publisher=Navy History and Heritage Command|access-date=22 August 2014|date=4 December 2006}}</ref> *[[Bureau of Naval Weapons]] was replaced with Naval Ordnance Systems Command (NAVORD) and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)<ref name="GSO NAVAIR">{{cite web|title=Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/navair.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=22 August 2014|date=5 July 2011}}</ref> *[[Bureau of Ships]] was replaced with Naval Ship Systems Command (NAVSHIPS) and Naval Electronic Systems Command (NAVELEX)<ref name="GSO NAVAIR"/> [[Office of Naval Material|Naval Material Command]] was also created as an umbrella organization for the new agencies.<ref name="GSO NAVAIR" />

In 1974, NAVORD and NAVSHIPS were merged into Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).<ref>{{cite web|title=Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/navsea.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=22 August 2014|date=5 July 2011}}</ref> In 1985, Naval Material Command was disestablished, placing the systems commands directly under the [[Chief of Naval Operations|chief of naval operations]]; an Office of Naval Acquisition Support was established to create acquisition support for functions that spanned across Commands, and which required a degree of independence in their operations. At the same time, NAVELEX became Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), expanding its traditional [[Command and control|command, control, and communications]] focus into undersea surveillance and space systems.<ref name=":7">{{cite web|title=Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/spawar.htm|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|access-date=22 August 2014|date=5 July 2011}}</ref> In 2019, SPAWAR was renamed to Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR).

Marine Corps Research, Development and Acquisition Command (MCRDAC) was established in 1987, and in 1992 it changed its name to Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC). In the 1990s it picked up several programs from [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] as well as the [[Assault Amphibious Vehicle]] program from NAVSEA.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=Overview and history|url=http://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/AboutUs/OverviewandHistory.aspx|publisher=Marine Corps Systems Command|access-date=22 August 2014|archive-date=13 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713123446/http://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/AboutUs/OverviewandHistory.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also== '''U.S. Armed Forces systems commands''' * [[United States Army Materiel Command|Army Materiel Command]] * [[Air Force Materiel Command]] * [[Space Systems Command]]

==References== {{reflist|30em}} <references group="http://www.secnav.navy.mil/rda/Pages/ASNRDAOrgChart.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016065313/http://www.secnav.navy.mil/rda/Pages/ASNRDAOrgChart.aspx |date=2015-10-16 }}" />

== External links == * [https://www.navsea.navy.mil/ Naval Sea Systems Command] * [https://www.navair.navy.mil/ Naval Air Systems Command] * [https://archive.today/20140721012743/http://www.public.navy.mil/ Naval Information Warfare Systems Command] * [https://www.navfac.navy.mil/ Naval Facilities Engineering Command] * [https://www.navsup.navy.mil/ Naval Supply Systems Command] * [http://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/ Marine Corps Systems Command]

[[Category:Shore commands of the United States Navy]] [[Category:Research organizations in the United States]]