SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) took center stage as an important catalyst to the city’s cyber economy during the roll out of the San Diego Military Advisory Council’s (SDMAC’s) annual economic impact study Oct. 10 at the Admiral Kidd Conference Center in San Diego.
SDMAC commissions an annual economic impact study to demonstrate the significant benefits of defense-related spending and military presence in the San Diego region. This year’s study highlighted NAVWAR as one of the Navy’s major acquisition commands with an expertise in information warfare technology and its substantial economic impact during fiscal year (FY) 2018.
“NAVWAR has a long history with San Diego, as the region has been a strong partner in executing our mission of delivering and sustaining information warfare capabilities for the Fleet and our partners around the world,” said NAVWAR Commander Rear Admiral Christian Becker. “This economic impact study helps us better understand the details of our relationship and how together we support our mutual success today as we prepare for the conflicts of the future from seabed to space and in cyberspace.”
NAVWAR influences San Diego’s economy through seven major channels including: contracts awarded to regional businesses, command employees, operations and maintenance spending, command-related tourism, patents, government purchase card payments, and contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
According to the report, NAVWAR contributed an estimated $3.2 billion to the region’s gross regional product (GRP) and more than 26,000 jobs during FY 2018, and is projected to grow to $3.5 billion GRP and 29,000 jobs in FY 2019.
Also in FY 2018, NAVWAR employed close to 5,200 people in San Diego, with about 270 military workers and 4,900 civilian employees. Their combined compensation, including wages and benefits, totaled nearly $800 million. Of these employees, many are highly educated with more than four-fifths of them holding at least a four-year college degree, and about two-fifths holding a Master’s or Doctorate degree.
NAVWAR’s presence here and the relationship with the city of San Diego is ideal for both the region and the command. With nearly half of its workforce positioned in the San Diego area, NAVWAR leverages many of the region’s unique advantages including its close proximity to operational forces, training ranges, high-tech industry and world-class universities.
Recently, this mutually beneficial relationship was on display when NAVWAR hosted the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Navy, the city of San Diego and the San Diego Association of Governments. This MOU is an agreement to explore options for the redevelopment of Naval Base Point Loma’s Old Town Complex, including more than 70 acres of property located in the Midway-Pacific Highway District.
“To remain competitive, to outpace our adversaries and to maintain our advantage in the information domain we must evolve,” said NAVWAR Executive Director Pat Sullivan. “The MOU represents a true opportunity for both the Navy and the San Diego region. This public-private venture could result in a new, modern, 1.5 million square foot NAVWAR facility, as well as a substantial economic benefit to the region through the construction and operation of new commercial, transportation and housing facilities.”
In addition to the MOU, NAVWAR is continuing to foster a more collaborative culture in the region’s business and technology arena to speed innovation. Some of these initiatives include the Naval Expeditions Agility Office’s Southern California Tech Bridge, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program.
Moving forward, NAVWAR will continue to partner with the city of San Diego, and support SDMAC’s mission of facilitating and advancing the partnership between the military, elected officials, civic leaders and the business community in order to enhance the understanding of the military’s many contributions to the San Diego region.
About NAVWAR:
NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains information warfighting capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space. NAVWAR consists of more than 11,000 active duty military and civil service professionals located around the world.
Connect with NAVWAR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationWarfareSystemsCommand
Twitter: https://twitter.com/navwarhq
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navwar_usnavy
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/navwar