Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS), China Lake – Ridgecrest, California

Rebuilding after a natural disaster is a challenging task, but it is also an opportunity to build back better than before. When two powerful earthquakes impacted the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS), China Lake, in Ridgecrest, California, on July 4, 2019, the base sustained significant damage. Operating at a reduced capability since then, recovery efforts are underway. We are proud to be a partner to the Officer In Charge of Construction (OICC) in executing the nearly $4 billion earthquake recovery program to restore NAWS China Lake and the Naval Air Weapons Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) to fully mission capable.

Our Role In Rebuilding

In 2020, we were awarded a four-year, $37 million contract by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest (NAVFAC SW) to support the rebuilding efforts, and since September 2021, embedded with NAVFAC SW and NAWCWD, we have been providing programmatic, technical, quality assurance, and construction management services.

Our approximately 40 team members on this project include program management staff, cost engineers, commissioning engineers, construction schedulers, construction managers, and engineering technicians. We are working closely with more than 50 NAVFAC SW personnel responsible for design and construction oversite, and we’re collaborating with an additional 60 NAWCWD personnel, the ultimate end-user, on the 19 military construction projects and three restoration and modernization projects. This ongoing effort extends on our long and successful history of partnership with the Department of Defense on large, infrastructure-complex programs.

What Is NAWS?

NAWS China Lake, the United States Navy’s largest single landholding at more than 1.1 million acres, provides and maintains land, facilities and other assets that support the Navy’s research, development, acquisition, testing and evaluation (RDAT&E) of cutting-edge weapons systems for the warfighter. As of March 2023, 50% of construction activities toward the ultimate objective of returning the base to full mission capability are complete.

Program Details

A recovery program of this scale has required four construction offices and one programmatic office. The Main Site Office consists of the Mission Systems Integration Laboratory, Industrial Complex Projects, Community Support Facilities, the Academic Training Building, several Michelson Lab Wings, and the Magazines and Inert Storage Facility. The South Airfield Office consists of the Hangar 2 Apron and Replacement, the Hangar 3 Replacement, the Integration Lab Project, the Air Traffic Control Tower, and the Airfield Rescue & Fire Fighting Station. The Range Control Office consists of the Range Control Complex Projects. The China Lake Propulsion Laboratory (CLPL) Office consists of the Laboratory Revitalization Program and these projects: Ordnance Test Support and Technical Services Lab, Radiographic Building, Cast Propellant Mix Building, the Warhead Casing Operations, Motor Assembly Compound, Skytop Propulsion Test Complex, and Thermal Dynamic Test Facility repairs. Not included in the list of projects is the Temporary Housing Complex that was constructed for the OICC China Lake Program, which can house up to 1,300 of the 1,500 peak construction staff.

We partnered with contractors to execute construction work on the program, and it has been a winning combination. The South Airfield program, valued at $775 million, was highlighted in 2022 as NAVFAC’s Officer in Charge of Construction Program of the Year, with several military and government personnel receiving engineer of the year awards. The OICC China Lake team also recognized key Parsons staff for their stellar contributions to the success of the South Airfield program in an onsite award ceremony.

Explore Our Infrastructure Capabilities

We’re a leader in providing the federal government with infrastructure solutions, and we’re proud to contribute our expertise to a project that is significant in scale and, more importantly, to our nation’s defense. Learn more.