Project Description
Ridgecrest, California
Following the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake launched a multi-year effort to restore and modernize its mission-critical infrastructure. Among the most significant of these recovery projects is the Range Control Complex — a $242 million state-of-the-art operational hub for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD).
Delivered by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southwest and its Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) China Lake, the complex includes four specialized facilities: the Range Control Center, Range Engineering and Operations Building, Range Instrumentation Support Facility, and the Range Fire Control/Missile Assembly Building. Together, they provide advanced command, control, and coordination across 1.1 million acres of test ranges, supporting more than 2,000 test events and 27,000 flight mission training sessions annually.
Constructed by Webcor Builders under a firm-fixed-price contract, the project showcases the Navy’s commitment to innovation, precision and mission readiness. The new complex replaces facilities damaged by the earthquakes and restores full operational capability for weapons testing and evaluation. Dedicated to Rear Adm. William S. “Deak” Parsons, an early champion of the China Lake ranges, the complex stands as a lasting symbol of collaboration, technological advancement, and national defense readiness.
Partnering Approach
VELO Group facilitated a structured, proactive partnering program bringing together NAVFAC Southwest, ROICC China Lake, Webcor Builders, Jacobs, and Mosher Drew Architects. The initial session established shared goals around safety, schedule, quality, change management, security, and teamwork—anchored by a commitment to deliver a “mission-ready” facility on day one.
The team also set key milestones, discussed the project’s importance, identified what would make it extraordinary, captured lessons learned from previous efforts, established communication protocols and created an issue resolution ladder to address challenges efficiently.
Spanning the project’s duration, the team held 16 formal partnering sessions to revisit and refine goals, address challenges, identify new opportunities and assign responsibilities. Each meeting recognized outstanding collaboration through Partnering Champion Awards, while team-building events strengthened relationships and morale.
As the project progressed a dedicated onboarding process was introduced to orient new team members —ensuring consistent understanding of project goals, communication expectations and the partnering approach.
Continuous feedback loops, combined with a strong focus on communication, teamwork and innovation, helped maintain alignment throughout every phase of design and construction. By encouraging creativity and fostering transparency, the team sustained collaboration through challenges such as complex systems integration, security constraints, extreme weather and COVID-19 restrictions.
Partnering Results
- Achieved zero lost-time incidents over 500,000 work hours
- Completed on schedule
- Delivered a mission-ready facility prepared for immediate system integration
- Sustained exceptional teamwork and communication through regular partnering sessions
- Enhanced quality control and end-user satisfaction
- Implemented innovative construction solutions to maintain efficiency and safety.
Project Notes
- Project Value: $242 million
- Delivery Method: Firm Fixed Price
- Facilities: Four specialized range control and operations buildings
