Construction of what was then called “Naval Communications Station Spain” began on 19 December 1961 on the Spanish Naval base in Rota, Spain. The communications station became fully operational on 31 May 1963 and was subject to several reorganizations and name changes over the years to include:
7 October 1991 - Name changed to “Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Spain (NCTS Spain)” to reflect the increased use of computers and telecommunications to carry out its mission.
1 October 1993 – Organization was downgraded from a Command to a Detachment, reporting directly to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Mediterranean (NCTAMS MED) in Naples, Italy as a result of region-wide U.S. military reorganizations following the end of the Cold War. This also resulted in a name change to “Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Mediterranean, Detachment Rota, Spain (NCTAMS MED Det Rota)”.
1 October 1997 - Changed name to “Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Europe and Central, Detachment Rota, Spain (NCTAMS EURCENT Det Rota)” to reflect the broader area of responsibility for the regional command in Naples that then included Europe and Southwest Asia (aka Central).
1 December 2004 – Navy-wide reorganization of communications stations resulted in NCTAMS EURCENT in Naples being downgraded to an O-5 command with regional responsibility and authority for Europe and Southwest Asia shifting to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic (NCTAMS LANT or NCTL) in Norfolk, VA. Subsequently, the communications station in Rota renamed to “Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic, Detachment Rota, Spain (NCTAMS LANT Det Rota or NCTL Det Rota)”.
1 October 2015 – Operational Control (OPCON) of NCTL Det Rota was shifted from NCTL HQ in Norfolk, VA to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Naples, Italy (NCTS Naples), which was once again an O-6 Command. Administrative Control (ADCON) remained with NCTL HQ.
14 July 2022 – Capt. Teague J. Suarez relieved Capt. David S. Baird as commander, U.S. Naval Activities Spain and commanding officer of Naval Station Rota during a change of command ceremony in front of the installations headquarters.
United States of America
United States Navy