In this paper, we review the history of the Center for Quantum Devices' (CQD) III-nitride research covering the past 15 years. We review early work developing III-nitride material growth. We then present a review of laser and light-emitting diode (LED) results covering everything from blue lasers to deep UV LEDs emitting at 250 nm. This is followed by a discussion of our UV photodetector research from early photoconductors all the way to current state of the art Geiger-mode UV single photon detectors. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.