The Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is the United States Coast Guard's Navigation Center of Excellence. NAVCEN is located in Alexandria, VA, south of the Washington Beltway, on the grounds of the Coast Guard Telecommunications and Information Systems Command (TISCOM) facility.

NAVCEN operates the Navigation Information Service (NIS), the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS), and LORAN. In addition, NAVCEN serves as the civilian interface for the Global Positioning System and manages other navigation-related projects.

The NIS disseminates navigation and maritime safety information to the public via the Internet and through a 24-7 watch in the NAVCEN Operations Center. The Operations Center also staffs watches to control 84 NDGPS sites and 24 LORAN stations across the United States. These radionavigation systems provide reliable, precise broadcasts, conforming to international standards to meet needs of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing users throughout the United States.

In addition to the aforementioned missions, NAVCEN serves as the civilian interface to the Department of Defense on GPS operations and management.

NAVCEN also manges the Integrated ATONIS project, as well as several other navigation-related projects.

If you are planning a visit to the Navigation Center or the Navigation Center Detachment, please see the directions and maps to our facilities.

The Navigation Center also maintains a "CG Central" site for internal network users.