66 FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 



(6) Does the coordinating committee for oceanography control funds or exer- 

 cise any line responsibility over oceanographic programs? 



(c) Does it plan any Government-wide programs jointly and, if so, are copies 

 of such a program available? 



(d) Can you give examples of how the committee coordinates requests for 

 funds and uses of facilities? 



A. (a) The Interagency Committee on Oceanography is a permanent mecha- 

 nism of the Federal Council for Science and Technology with representation from 

 the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, Department of Interior, 

 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, National Science Foundation, 

 and the Atomic Energy Commission. The purpose of the Interagency Commit- 

 tee is to implement, coordinate, and review the national program in oceanog- 

 raphy. The Committee meets periodically to review the individual agency 

 programs in the context of the national effort and to consider special problems 

 that may arise in implementing the national program. The Committee has been 

 enjoined by the Federal Council to consider other matters it deems relevant 

 and important and to include additional agency representatives where this may 

 be required or helpful. 



It will engage in coordinated budget planning for fiscal year 1962. Of primary 

 concern to the Committee is the development of a program which provides for 

 reasonable increase in our national capability when faced with the critical limi- 

 tations on scientific manpower, funds, and leadtime for the construction of 

 ships and shore facilities. 



(ft) The Interagency Committee does not directly control fmads nor exercise 

 direct line responsibility over individual oceanographic projects. Each mem- 

 ber of the Interagency Committee holds a position of policy and budget re- 

 sponsibility within his parent agency. The agency representatives were se- 

 lected at this level to permit them to be able to commit their agencies in the 

 coordination of the national program. 



(c) The Interagency Committee has not to date planned a Government-wide 

 project or program. However, the Committee has established two working 

 panels for specific purposes. The function of one panel is to plan and coordinate 

 our ocean survey program. A second panel has the responsibility for working 

 out details for planning and the policies for joint operation of a national data 

 center. Additional panels are being considered — one for training and educa- 

 tion, one for basic research, and possibly one for special devices and instru- 

 mentation. 



(d) The development of the fiscal year 1961 budget required that the Inter- 

 agency Committee review the individual programs and needs for funds of the 

 principal Government agencies concerned with oceanography. The total fund- 

 ing requirements were presented to and endorsed by the Federal Council for 

 Science and Technology concurrently with their submission in the President's 

 budget. In the short time it has been established, the Committee has not had 

 to consider coordination among the agencies of the use of facilities. In the 

 development of the budget for fiscal year 1962, each agency's program and the 

 national program as a whole will be reviewed critically by the Committee for 

 balance and technical validity. The Committee expects to seek endorsement of 

 this consolidated program and budget from the Federal Council for Science and 

 Technology and approval from the President before presenting it to Congress in 

 the form of a package containing the complete national program in oceanography. 



The Chairman. We want to thank you very much. Do you have 

 something further to add \ 



Dr. Wakelin. I have something to add in reply to your question, 

 sir, and it is qualitatively as I have given it to you, bu( (his informa- 

 1 ion may be of interest. 



In terms of the Navy there are two officers at the University of 

 Washington working for master's degrees, two at the University of 

 Washington, in Seattle for doctor's degrees. There are 76 at the U.S. 

 Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey working in the held of aerol- 

 ogy and getting some training in oceanography, but this is not a pri- 

 mary fund ion of t hnl particular part of the curriculum. 



Mr. Van Pelt. Thank you. 



