04/30/2026
Happy 85th Birthday to our origin story.
Before the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Division (NAWCTSD) settled in Orlando, the command went by a different name: The Special Devices Desk. 85 years ago, on April 30, 1941, the Special Devices Desk was established in the engineering division of Aeronautics to “supervise experiments and development of training devices. RADM Luis de Florez led the Special Devices Desk and eventually helped established the de Florez building, NAWCTSD’s main hub.
Although the command has had many names over the decades, we still celebrate our origins every year on the Special Devices Desk anniversary. Over the decades, the command evolved through various organizational structures and names, reflecting its expanding mission and technological advancements. Key milestones include:
1942: Transition to the Special Devices Division.
1946: Establishment of the Special Devices Center in Port Washington, NY.
1955: Renamed Naval Training Device Center.
1971: Relocated to Orlando, FL, as the Naval Training Equipment Center.
1985: Became the Naval Training Systems Center.
1993: Officially designated as NAWCTSD under Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
Today, NAWCTSD continues to lead in delivering cutting-edge training systems and technologies, supporting the readiness of U.S. and allied forces worldwide.
