History

The U.S. Naval Aviation Safety Activity was established in 1951 at Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia. The staff collected, evaluated and published information about aviation safety. The staff also advised the chief of naval operations (CNO) and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) on all phases of the aviation safety effort.

The safety activity grew into the Naval Aviation Safety Center in 1955 and the officer-in-charge of the activity was replaced with a director. Two years later, the director’s billet was filled with a flag officer for the first time, and in 1958, the director’s title became Commander, U.S. Naval Aviation Safety Center. During this time, the center’s mission expanded into several new areas, including aviation mishap investigations and surveys, and assistance in formulating policies aimed at maintaining higher levels of combat readiness.

In May 1968, the Naval Aviation Safety Center and the Submarine Safety Center, located in New London, Connecticut, merged to become the Naval Safety Center, based in Norfolk. Programs involving surface ships and shore activities were added to form the nucleus of all safety programs within the Navy. In 1986, system safety was added as a program and the position of a Marine Corps deputy commander was established to administer and represent Marine Corps safety issues.

Training safety became the center’s newest program in May 1989 to address shore-based basic training problems. While Marines have always been a part of the aviation process, a Marine Corps ground safety detachment was assigned to the Naval Safety Center in October 1993. Subsequently, a naval reserve unit stood up in 1996, comprising 30 members.

In February 2022, the Naval Safety Center was re-established as the Naval Safety Command (NAVSAFECOM), with expanded authorities and functions. As a two-star, Echelon II command, NAVSAFECOM serves as the naval enterprise lead for non-nuclear safety standards, expertise and oversight of the Department of the Navy’s Safety Management System (SMS).


 

The command operates with the requisite authorities and responsibilities needed to establish a SMS that provides defense-in-depth and ensures the naval enterprise is both safe to operate and operating safely.

The command has the authority to establish Echelon I safety and risk management policy and the ability to conduct formal, independent assurance functions for Echelon II/III through unit-level commands to evaluate their risk control systems, self-assessment and self-correcting processes. The command provides safety advice and assistance to the secretary of the Navy and manages the Navy’s safety and occupational health program on behalf of the CNO.

The NAVSAFECOM commander serves as the special assistant for the CNO on safety matters. The command assists the Marine Corps by managing the Marine Corps portion of the naval aviation safety program and other safety programs as required and operates closely with the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division.

NAVSAFECOM provides support and oversight to the naval safety program through safety and risk management policy and guidance, safety data services, safety program services, safety communications and safety education and training. Data sources are worldwide, and information and data analysis are provided to all levels of the Navy, Marine Corps, other federal agencies, contractors and foreign governments. 

The command is organized into seven directorates: Aviation, Shore, Afloat, Expeditionary and Special Warfare, Data and Analytics, Assurance, and Mishap Investigations. Five departments and one special staff division provide support to the core operations of the command. 

NAVSAFECOM provides oversight of the accredited Naval Safety and Environmental Training Center in Norfolk and the Naval School of Aviation Safety in Pensacola, Florida.