OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITY 97 



zance, or because all inadvertently overlook the needed program so 

 that it falls unnoticed "in the cracks in the floor." 



When a large number of agencies have responsibilities for different 

 segments of the total program, some of these segments tend to be 

 small. Each segment must be defended for funds in its cognizant 

 agency against a large number of other projects, and in the compe- 

 tition, despite sought-for balance, some fare poorly. As a resijlt, 

 since often one part of a program developed by one agency may 

 depend on a collateral phase sponsored by another, the loss in appro- 

 priations Avitliin one agency may well generate an enfeebling reaction 

 throughout the eutne matrix of oceanographic research. 



All of these comments thus lead naturally to the everburning 

 question in Government operations of mechanism and effectiveness 

 of "coordination." 



F. COORDIXATION OF FEDERAL OCEANOGRAPHIC ACTIVITIES 



Coordination of multi-agenc}* activity is always desirable'in prin- 

 ciple, not just for administrative tidiness, but to assure the most 

 effective pursuit and thrift of programs. In a potentiallj' expanding 

 field, such coordination assumes particular significance. Facts con- 

 cerning existing procedures have been discussed in presentations to 

 various committees of the Congress, particularly bj' representatives 

 of the U.S. Navy and pertinent excerpts are presented in the following: 



The fu^st move tovv-ard informal interdepartmental coordination 

 developed in 1956 with formation of the Coordinating Committee on 

 Oceanography (CCO), described by Vice Adm. John T. Hay ward: ^^ 



While the Navy is pursuing its own program in oceanography, the problems 

 are so large and involve so many other groups that it has been found necessary 

 to coordinate our research within the Department of Defense and other Govern- 

 ment agencies. Within the DOD formal coordination is achieved tlirough the 

 Committee on Science which has designated service representatives to deal witli 

 oceanography. Coordination among other interested Government agencies is 

 accomphshed informally through the Coordinating Committee on Oceanography 

 (CCO) established by the Office of Naval Research in 1956. This committee, 

 consisting of representatives from all Federal agencies concerned with the oceans, 

 has met regularly every month to discuss problems of mutual interest. 



Then with regard to its functions, Rear Admiral Hayward added: 



The usefulness of the Coordinating Committee on Oceanography is attributed to 

 its informality and to the rotation of the chairmanship among the member 

 asrencies. It is this group that will insure that a national program in oceanograph}' 

 is properly managed and well coordinated throughout the Federal agencies 

 concerned. 



The Coordinating Committee on Oceanography currently includes 

 representatives from the following agencies: 

 Health, Education, and Welfare. 

 Public Health Service. 

 National Science Foundation. 

 Beach Erosion Board, Corps of Engineers. 

 Bureau of Ships, U.S. Navy. 

 Maritime Administration. 



Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Fish and Wildlife Service. 

 Office of Science, Department of Defense. 

 Office of Naval Research. 



" " Oceanography In the U.S.," op. cit., p. 135. 



