In 1972, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) established its European Branch in Naples to provide shore-based facility project planning and design, and the Public Works, Real Estate, Housing and Utility support for all Navy activities in a geographical area spanning from Scotland to Bahrain.
The European Branch was also responsible for liaison and approval from the Government of Italy of all U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force facility projects in Italy. In 1992, the European Branch combined with the disestablishing Officer in Charge of Construction, Madrid to form Engineering Field Activity Mediterranean (EFA Med). Additional responsibilities included Military Construction design and facility construction executed across multiple theaters through Resident Officer in Charge of Construction field offices. Concurrently, the functions of shore infrastructure requirements and resourcing were being managed through a department of Commander, Naval Forces Europe and subsequently, through Commander, Navy Region Europe's Regional Engineer staff.
In July 2005, the Navy's global vision for transforming shore infrastructure management was further realized and a new chapter in NAVFAC's history was written by renaming EFA Med to NAVFAC Europe. EFA Med and the Regional Engineer organization joined forces to provide the Commander, Navy Region Europe and Commander, Navy Region Southwest Asia a more streamlined facilities organization, bringing about yet another name change – NAVFAC Europe and Southwest Asia.
In January 2009, operational and logistical shore service support of Navy Region Southwest Asia, along with Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, was realigned under the scope of Navy Region Europe. On April 21, 2009, Navy Region Europe officially changed its name to Commander Navy Region Europe Africa Southwest Asia (CNREURAFSWA).
In order to accurately reflect the entire area of responsibility and supported regional commander, NAVFAC followed suit, officially updating its name to EURAFSWA on August 5, 2009.
In 2019, Navy Region Euope Africa Southwest Asia became Navy Region Europe Africa Central (EURAFCENT); in October 2019, NAVFAC EURAFSWA again followed suit to align with supported regional commander and Combatant Commands, officially becoming NAVFAC EURAFCENT.
NAVFAC EURAFCENT Commanding Officer also serves as the Regional Engineer for Europe Africa Southwest Asia and Staff Civil Engineer for Commander, Navy Europe and Commander, Sixth Fleet.