[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO POINT MUGU, CALIFORNIA

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                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and pay tribute to 
Naval Air Station, Point Mugu, California and its 60 years as a premier 
Navy missile research, development, test, and evaluation center.
  Mugu beach is believed to be the site where Juan Cabrillo landed on 
October 10, 1542. Muwu was the capital village of the Chumash Indians 
located along the shores of Mugu Lagoon. Most of its early history 
centers around ranching, farming, and the famous Mugu fish camp.
  In 1947, Congress appropriated funds to establish a permanent Navy 
presence here to develop a site where both missiles and pilotless 
aircraft could be tested. Since the mid-1940s, Point Mugu has had 
several Center Names, all with the mission to develop, test, and 
evaluate missiles and related systems.
  Originally, on October 1, 1946, Point Mugu was named the U.S. Naval 
Air Missile Test Center, followed on August 1, 1949, as the Naval Air 
Station. On June l6, 1958, it obtained the Pacific Missile Range 
moniker and on January 7, 1959, it was named the Naval Missile Center. 
On April 26, 1975, Point Mugu became the Pacific Missile Test Center. 
On January 21, 1992, it became the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons 
Division and Naval Air Weapons Station.
  Today it is part of Naval Base Ventura County with the designation 
Naval Air Station, Point Mugu.
  The main base complex at Point Mugu consists of 4,500 acres of 
support facilities and instrumentation equipment. Point Mugu maintains 
three runways to support range users and the numerous operational units 
assigned there.
  Additionally, the Sea Range Operational Area comprises a 36,000-
square-mile instrumented sea test range that can be expanded to 196,000 
square miles. The sea range is supported by a deepwater port located at 
nearby Port Hueneme, and San Nicolas Island 60 miles off the coast.
  Point Mugu is an integral part of the Naval Air Warfare Center 
Weapons Division, NAWCWPNS, the Navy's full spectrum research, 
development, test evaluation, and in-service engineering center for 
weapons systems associated with air warfare.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to 
the military and civilian men and women who, over the course of 60 
years, have dedicated themselves to the defense of the United States 
and have substantially contributed to the security of the United States 
and our allies.

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