Susan Smith

Naval Ocean Processing Facility (NOPF) Ford Island, HI, was established as a key component of the U.S. Navy’s Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) during the Cold War. Commissioned in the 1980s, NOPF Ford Island’s primary mission has been the analysis and processing of undersea acoustic data collected by the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) arrays in the Pacific Ocean. The facility played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare, providing early warning and tracking of potential submarine threats in the Pacific theater. Over the years, NOPF Ford Island has evolved with advancing technology, continuing its vital role in maritime security and undersea surveillance for the U.S. Navy.