589 



6 



Findings and Recommendations 



The success with which the Office of Naval Research (ONR) carries out its 

 mission clearly depends on mastery of the marine environment. This competence 

 comes from a predictive knowledge of ocean processes as well as the tangible 

 technology necessary to operate within the marine regime. With declining fed- 

 eral support to various agencies, it is critical that ONR maintain its leadership in 

 ocean sciences, technology, and education and further focus its efforts in the 

 ocean environment. This role will ensure continued U.S. leadership in marine 

 technology and provide the information and technology pool on which the private 

 sector can draw. The present vertical integration of the agency could provide a 

 structure to facilitate technology transfer. This structure should then be aug- 

 mented, as discussed in this report, to improve the means and the measurement of 

 technology transfer to military and nonmilitary users. The findings and recom- 

 mendations discussed below are intended for use by the director of ONR' s Ocean, 

 Atmosphere and Space Department and the Chief of Naval Research. These 

 recommendations can and should be acted upon as soon as is practically possible. 



ONR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 



Finding: The Office of Naval Research supports leading-edge research and 

 development in many areas of ocean science and technology with applications for 

 nonmihtary users. 



ONR-supported research accounts for a tremendous array of leading-edge 

 scientific information and technological developments with potential application 



41 



