Mission Statement
Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NIWTG) San Diego advances Information Warfare (IW) readiness by executing operationally-focused IW training and assessment, deploying Information Operations (IO) Warfighters in direct support to Carrier and Amphibious Strike Groups, and enabling naval afloat, ashore, and airborne IW forces across the Pacific theater. 2023 Association of Old Crows Outstanding Navy Unit Award.
About Us
NIWTG San Diego’s history dates back to May 20, 1920, when the Secretary of the Navy authorized a Navy Radio Compass Station to provide navigational aid at Imperial Beach. In 1932, the unit was renamed Navy Direction Finder Station. In 1940 a permanent Direction Finding station was established on the Coronado Strand Military Reservation.
By 1953, the station known as Naval Radio Receiving Station Imperial Beach became the Naval Security Group Department of Naval Communication Station San Diego. In 1967, the Wullenweber Circular Display Antenna Array (AN/FRD-10A) was constructed at Imperial Beach. Finally, in 1998, Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) San Diego was commissioned. Over the years, numerous realignments occurred including Fleet Deception Group with Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group, establishing the Fleet Tactical Readiness Group in 1991. In 1993, their name changed to Command and Control Warfare Group (CCWG). Finally in October 1995, Command and Control Warfare Group merged with Electronic Warfare Operational Programming Facility to establish Fleet Information Warfare Center Detachment (FIWC-DET) San Diego.
FIWC-DET San Diego owes its lineage to the Beach Jumpers. The Beach Jumpers were the oldest practitioners of naval Information Operations (IO) and served as the Navy's tactical cover and deception units. The concept for Beach Jumpers came about during World War II as a result of Lt. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., the Hollywood actor turned naval officer, while assigned to duty with British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten's Combined Operations [Commandos] in England.
In 2005, FIWC-DET San Diego and NSGA San Diego merged to establish NIOC San Diego. NIOC San Diego provided highly skilled information warfare (IW) augmentees to deploying naval units and naval special warfare, maintained cryptologic equipment, developed IW doctrine and tactics, and pioneered defensive computer support throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. Its Sailors supported Operation New Dawn and the ongoing Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
In 2018, NIOC San Diego was disestablished, and Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NIWTG) San Diego was established. NIWTG San Diego is responsible for Fleet OFRP assessment and certification to include Basic Phase IW training, assessment, certification of all Pacific Fleet surface ships and PCUs, and SIGINT Airborne testing, evaluation, and certification in support of EP-3E, P-8, and TRITON. Additionally, they provide classroom training for the Fleet and Department of Defense and deploy IO warfighters direct support to Carrier and Amphibious Strike Groups.