NAWCTSD celebrates 85 years of naval training, simulation innovation

By Victoria Garcia-Morales, Staff Writer

July 6, 2026

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), the U.S. Navy’s principal center for research, development and acquisition of advanced modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) systems.

Based in Orlando, the command develops innovative training technologies that prepare service members for real-world operations while improving readiness, reducing costs and minimizing risk.

NAWCTSD is also a cornerstone of Central Florida’s nationally recognized MS&T industry, working alongside government, academic and defense partners to advance military readiness.

The roots of NAWCTSD date to April 1941, when then-Commander Luis de Florez was appointed head of the newly created Special Devices Desk within the Engineering Division of the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics. According to NAWCTSD’s historical archive, de Florez was a strong advocate for what he called “synthetic training devices” and believed realistic simulation could better prepare military personnel before they entered combat.

Just two months later, the office became the Special Devices Section. Throughout World War II, it developed innovative training technologies, including motion-picture trainers for aircraft gunners, precision bombing trainers and terrain-modeling kits that helped military planners rehearse operations before entering combat. As its responsibilities expanded, the organization grew into the Special Devices Division.

In August 1946, the command was commissioned as the Special Devices Center at Port Washington, New York. Over the following decades, it continued to evolve through several reorganizations before relocating to Orlando in 1965 as the Naval Training Device Center, eventually becoming today’s Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an engineer, de Florez is widely recognized as the father of modern naval simulation and training. His vision of using technology to prepare service members safely and effectively continues to guide NAWCTSD’s mission more than eight decades later.

Today, NAWCTSD’s primary mission is to accelerate warfighter readiness by developing advanced training systems for aircraft, surface ships, submarines and other military platforms. Its work supports the Navy, Marine Corps and joint military partners by creating immersive technologies that prepare warfighters for increasingly complex operational environments.

One of the command’s innovations, the Conning Officer Virtual Environment (COVE), is a ship-handling simulator developed in 2000 that provides state-of-the-art navigation and ship handling instruction by recreating realistic maritime environments. According to a 2017 NSS COVE report, modern versions incorporate situational awareness, multitasking and tactical maneuvering to help sailors safely practice complex operations before going to sea.

NAWCTSCD also develops advanced flight training systems that support naval aviation. One example is the training system supporting the Navy’s T-45 Goshawk program, which prepares Navy and Marine Corps aviators for aircraft carrier operations before they transition to frontline aircraft such as the F/A-18 or F-35. These simulation systems allow pilots to practice demanding flight maneuvers in a safe, controlled environment while preserving aircraft resources.

As NAWCTSD celebrates its 85th anniversary, the command continues to build on the vision established by Luis de Florez in 1941. From pioneering wartime training devices to developing today’s cutting-edge simulation technologies, the organization remains at the forefront of preparing the next generation of sailors, Marines and military personnel for the challenges of tomorrow.