We have been an integral part of Army research and development for over 60 years.

Since our beginnings in 1962, our mission has remained steadfast: to develop, integrate, demonstrate and sustain aviation and missile systems capabilities to support the future Army and improve readiness. While the Center looks drastically different from when it originated, we have remained at the forefront of innovative Army technology.

Early Beginnings

AvMC traces its origins back to October 1948 when the chief of ordnance designated Redstone Arsenal as the center for research and development in the field of rockets. A year later, the secretary of the Army approved the transfer of the Ordnance Research and Development Division sub-office at Fort Bliss, Texas, to Redstone Arsenal. Among those transferred were Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team of German scientists and technicians who had come to the United States after World War II. The Von Braun team is most noted for its pioneering efforts in helping the Army at Redstone lay the foundation for U.S. space exploration.

With the transfer of the Von Braun team to NASA in 1960, research and development activities by the Army at Redstone turned to integrating space-age technology into weapons for the Soldier in the field.

Name Changes

• 1962 - The U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM), including the Directorate of Research and Development, was activated.
• 1964 - The U.S. Army Materiel Command assigned the U.S. Army Aviation Command its first aviation and surface materiel research and development center in Fort Eustis, Virginia, to be known as the U.S. Army Aviation Materiel Laboratories. Later that year, the new U.S. Army Aeronautical Research Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center opened at Moffett Field, California. Both remain in operation today under the DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center umbrella.
• 1965 - Redesignated the Research and Development Directorate.
• 1968 - Redesignated the Research and Engineering (R&E) Directorate.
• 1971 - Redesignated the Directorate for Research, Development, Engineering, and Missile Systems Laboratory (RDE&MSL).
• 1972 - Redesignated the Army Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Laboratory (MRDEL).
• 1977 - With the establishment of the U.S. Army Missile Research and Development Command (MIRADCOM), the Technology Laboratory and the Engineering Laboratory were born.
• 1979 - Reorganized/redesignated as the Army Missile Laboratory (AML) as part of the shift from the dual to the merged command structure of the reinstituted MICOM. Also effective this date, the Engineering Laboratory was realigned and established as the Engineering Directorate.
• 1980 - Engineering Directorate functions were placed under AML.
• 1985 - AVSCOM reestablished - all missions and activities of AVRADCOM and aviation related missions/activities of the Troop Support and Aviation Materiel Readiness Command transferred to AVSCOM.
• 1985 - Redesignated the Research, Development, and Engineering Center (RDEC) in compliance with AMC directions to establish research, development, and engineering (RD&E) centers to serve as technical centers of excellence and to assure maximum return from resources devoted to RD&E efforts.
• 1992 - AVSCOM Aviation Lab realigned under the newly formed Aviation and Troop Command (ATCOM).
• 1997 – The Aviation RDEC (AVRDEC) and the Missile RDEC (MRDEC) assigned under the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM).
• 1999/2000 – The Aviation & Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) formed by merging the AVRDEC and the MRDEC. Aviation Lab transitioned from St. Louis to Redstone Arsenal.
• 2004 - AMRDEC assigned under the new U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM).
• 2016 - AMRDEC operationally aligned under AMCOM; administratively aligned under RDECOM.
• 2018 - Realigned administratively and operationally with RDECOM. Referred to as RDECOM Aviation & Missile Center.
• 2019 - Aviation & Missile Center assigned under the Army Futures Command, transition of authority from Army Materiel Command. Renamed as U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center. Referred to as CCDC Aviation & Missile Center or CCDC AvMC.
• 2021 - Higher headquarters, CCDC, referred to as DEVCOM. CCDC Aviation & Missile Center referred to as DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center or DEVCOM AvMC.