Operational Test & Eval Capability
Abstract
This program is funded under RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST and EVALUATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT because it supports efforts directed toward sustaining or modernizing facilities and conducting operations required for general research, development, test and evaluation. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, since inception in 1945. OPTEVFOR serves as the Service Operational Test Agency for the Navy, as well as Marine Corps Aviation. In addition to the headquarters element, OPTEVFOR includes a Fleet-scheduling detachment in San Diego, a detachment supporting the Joint Strike Fighter, US Operational Test Team at Nellis, Air Force Base (AFB), NV, and a Surface Warfare Division detachment at Dahlgren, VA. There are four Navy and Marine Corps Squadrons that conduct OT&E under the direction of the Director. Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE (VX-1), located at Patuxent River, MD, is under the administrative control of Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic. Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9), located at China Lake, CA, is under the administrative control of Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific. Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE (VMX-1), located at Yuma, AZ is administratively aligned under the Deputy Commandant for Aviation. Marine Helicopter Squadron ONE (HMX-1), located at Quantico, VA, responsible for OT of aircraft assigned for Presidential transport. OPTEVFOR is a competency- and warfare-aligned organization. Rather than a strict Fleet military structure, OPTEVFOR's Warfare Divisions are fully responsible for delivering test documents ready for the Director's signature and executing and reporting adequate operational test and evaluation (OT&E) for Naval systems and capabilities. They are supported by Competency Divisions, whose job is to ensure the product meets technical requirements, and DoN and the Director's standards. There are seven warfare divisions that are supported by competency divisions. The warfare divisions include Undersea Warfare (40), Air Warfare (50), Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) (60), Surface Warfare (70), Expeditionary Warfare and Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) (80), and Advanced Programs (90). Each warfare division has a Navy Captain as the division Director with a senior civil servant as the Deputy or a senior civil servant as the division Director and a Navy Commander as the Deputy. There are four competency divisions: Policy, Operations and Training (01A), Test Design and Modeling Simulation (01B), Test Planning and Evaluation(01C), and Cybersecurity Testing (01D). In addition, the Technical Director (00TD) supports all divisions on technical aspects of the test products. Other business divisions include the Staff Commanding Officer and Administration (10), Chief Information Officer (CIO) (20), Contracts (01K), and the Comptroller (30).
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0605865N_6_1319_PB_2025
- Change Summary Explanation
- Funding: $463K increase in FY2023 provided for Accelerated Teams to support test design. $478K decrease in FY2025 reflects a 3 FTE CIVPER reduction.
- Service Agency Name
- Navy
Entities
Organizations
- United States Navy
Related Documents
- Child Project: OPTEVFOR Support
- Child Accomplishment: OPTEVFOR SUPPORT
- Child Project: Cyberspace Activities
- Child Accomplishment: Cyberspace Activities