NAVAIR Point Mugu Weapons Division, Point Mugu, Calif.--

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has named Point Mugu Missile Center as a Historic Aerospace site. A dedication ceremony will be held Friday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. to highlight more than 55 years of significant contributions by the people of Point Mugu in Navy missiles, weapons systems and platform research, development, test and evaluation.

Of historical significance--In 1947, the first missile launched from the USS Cusk took place, this was followed by the first guided missile to destroy an airborne target in 1950 then post World War II missiles among them the Sparrow, Regulus, Phoenix, Bullpup, Polaris, Trident, Harpoon, Tomahawk, Standoff Land-Attack Missile (SLAM), Standard and Rolling Airframe Missiles.

AIAA founded the historic Aerospace site program for the preservation and promotion of sites of significant accomplishments made by the aerospace profession both to industry and to the general public. Sites are chosen through a nomination process. To learn more about AIAA go to www.aiaa.org. To learn more about NAVAIR Point Mugu Weapons Division go to www.nawcwd.navy.mil or Naval Base Ventura County at www.nbvc.navy.mil.

Throughout the years, the name has changed, but the quality of the testing has remained constant. The history of the rich technical and operation testing benefits are an integral part of our Nation’s security.

In recent years, electronic warfare projects have grown in number and importance with a critical requirement to test weapons against realistic threats and in electronmagnetic environments.

Media representatives who plan to attend, conduct interviews or film the event must contact Doris G. Lance at doris.lance @navy.mil or 760-382-9308 by Nov. 12, 2003 for coordination purposes.