Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned on 16 April 1987 at the Naval Amphibious
Base in Coronado, California, and is the Naval component to the United States Special Operations Command (see Figure 4-1). The mission of Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command (COMNAVSPECWARCOM) is to prepare Naval Special Warfare forces to carry out assigned missions and to develop maritime special operations strategy, doctrine, and tactics. COMNAVSPECWARCOM exercises operational control of all United States-based Naval Special Warfare Command training, operational control of all United States-based Naval Special Warfare forces and responsibility for the training, equipping, supporting, and providing trained and ready forces to the combatant commanders. Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command is a Navy Flag Officer, a Rear Admiral.