NDRC: THE DIVISIONS, PANELS AND COMMITTEES 8l 



of the Division Chief, or by a division. The recommendation was based 

 upon a consideration of the program, the available contractors and the 

 equitableness of the contract. The proposed program and resulting con- 

 tract proposals were then considered by NDRC which normally recom- 

 mended them to the Director for action. In the case of projects where 

 there was a question as to policy or justification, the Division Chief in 

 person, with such aid as he chose to bring, presented the proposal to 

 NDRC and was subject to questioning by the members. In the case of a 

 project of small magnitude or one not involving questions of policy or 

 justification, the Executive Officer of NDRC submitted the proposal on the 

 basis of information furnished by the Division Chief. 



In some divisions, individual members undertook to follow the work 

 under particular contracts, but in most cases the primary supervision of 

 contract operations was the task of the Technical Aides who were full 

 time employees selected for this purpose. The Technical Aides ranged 

 from young scientists whose task it was to operate under the eyes of their 

 seniors to older men of distinction equal to that of the Division Chiefs. 

 Taken as a whole the Technical Aides were an exceedingly capable group 

 who deserve a large share of the credit for the successful execution of the 

 broad policies laid down by the Director and the NDRC. 



All divisions and panels held meetings, for the most part at monthly 

 intervals, although each division made its own decisions as to the frequency 

 of meetings. At some meetings Army and Navy Liaison Officers were in 

 attendance; and the division sought to bring them up to date on the 

 progress of research projects, to get Service views on specific aspects 

 of the various programs and to get information about operational aspects 

 of new developments. Other meetings were held with only division mem- 

 bers and Technical Aides present; these afforded opportunity for searching 

 reviews of the details of particular projects as well as for vigorous discus- 

 sion of directions in which the division was, or should have been, headed. 

 Technical Aides or members following particular contracts reported on 

 developments since the last previous meeting and were instructed as to 

 future lines of research. 



Newly submitted projects were reviewed at the divisional meetings and 

 the recommendations of the Division Chief as to lines of attack and 

 potential contractors discussed at length. In the case of prospective academic 

 contractors, the discussion frequendy hinged around the relative com- 

 petence of particular investigators who were available for additional war 

 work. Through the attendance of members of its staff, the NDRC Chair- 

 man's Office acquired information useful both in assessing the divisional 

 program and in discussions of divisional proposals when they reached the 

 NDRC. 



In some cases the divisional meeting was the battleground upon which 



