[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16555-16556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA 
                                  LAKE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 30, 2013

  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the 70th anniversary of America's premier weapons development center, 
the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, which is located in 
Ridgecrest, California, which I represent.
  China Lake was originally established as the Naval Ordnance Test 
Station (NOTS) in the Indian Wells Valley of California to serve the 
needs of the Navy-Caltech wartime rocket program. This location was 
chosen due to its near-perfect flying weather and incredible 
visibility. Testing began a month after NOTS was formally established 
and shortly thereafter the Secretary of the Navy expanded its mission 
to lead the Navy in research, development, and testing of weapons, a 
mission China Lake still carries out to this day.
  Since being founded during World War II, China Lake has been critical 
in the development of our nation's defense capabilities in every major 
conflict, including the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of China 
Lake's notable developments occurred in 1950, when scientists and 
engineers developed the air-intercept missile (AIM). Known more 
commonly as the Sidewinder, the AIM has become the world's most 
recognized air-to-air missile and is one of many weapons that have been 
developed or tested at China Lake. Other prominent rockets and missiles 
developed or tested

[[Page 16556]]

at China Lake include the Mighty Mouse, Zuni, Shrike, Joint Stand-off 
Weapon (JSOW) and Joint Direct-Attack Munition (JDAM), all of which 
have given and continue to give our military the capabilities needed to 
maintain combat superiority over current and future threats.
  Spanning over three counties and covering more than 1,100,000 acres, 
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is currently home to several 
commands and detachments that work together each day in support of our 
warfighters. These include: the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons 
Division (NAWCWD), which serves within the Naval Air Systems command to 
maintain the highest standards of excellence in weapons development for 
the Navy; the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE (VX-31) and 
the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9), which provide the 
essential expertise needed to plan and execute ground and flight tests, 
air-to-ground weapons, air-to-air weapons, sensors, electronic warfare 
systems, and developmental weapons and weapons systems testing; the 
Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD), which focuses on the development of 
cutting-edge technologies for weapons systems; the Explosive Ordnance 
Disposal Detachments, which are forces comprised of highly-trained 
technicians who specialize in explosives, diving, and parachuting; the 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest China Lake 
Detachment, which is responsible for the public works, planning, 
engineering design, construction, real estate, and environmental 
services of the facilities and real estate at NAWS China Lake. 
Together, these tenants are made up of the hardworking men and women of 
the China Lake community, who work each day to maintain a reputation of 
excellence for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense.
  For the past 70 years, NAWS has been critical to ensuring our 
military men and women have the latest cutting-edge technology to 
protect and defend America when called into harm's way. The weapons and 
weapons systems developed at China Lake help ensure these brave 
individuals complete their mission and return safely to their families. 
I have had the privilege to meet with the amazing individuals at China 
Lake who are responsible for these incredible innovations in American 
technology. Their dedication, commitment, and pride in the work they 
perform are unparalleled. This same commitment is reflected in the 
Ridgecrest community, where many of the men and women who work at this 
installation live and raise their families.
  Mr. Speaker, NAWS China Lake is a beacon of innovation and excellence 
in the military community and an important part of my community and my 
district. I am honored to represent so many individuals, active-duty 
military and civilians, who go to work each day for the purpose of 
maintaining and strengthening both the warfighter and this nation's 
defense. I look forward to another 70 years of amazing achievements, 
and I ask my colleagues to join me today in wishing the Naval Air 
Weapons Station China Lake a very happy 70th anniversary.

                          ____________________