8 Research and National Purpose 



were systems developments, such as the minitrack system for 

 world-wide satellite tracking; pioneering in automatic navi- 

 gational systems; ultra-long-range undersea detection; pioneer- 

 ing with AEC in nuclear accelerators for universities; devel- 

 opment of molybdenum and titanium technology; establish- 

 ment of low temperature research centers throughout the 

 country; and continuing progress in studies of hydrodynamics, 

 turbulence and boundary layer problems. 



Of especial importance to the Navy, as it always seemed to 

 me, was the Naval Research Section for its training of young 

 naval officers in the application of modern scientific research 

 and in developing among the civilian components of the Plan- 

 ning Division a realistic sense of Navy operational problems. 

 Indeed this Section undertook some of the earliest studies 

 along systems analysis lines. 



I greatly regret that time does not permit me to pay tribute 

 by name to the somewhat extraordinary list of individuals who 

 have served with ONR, both civilian and military, for their 

 cooperative and substantial share in ONR's fine record. Their 

 competence is well attested by the positions they have gone 

 on to fill, in ONR and elsewhere. 



The ONR will go down in history as a pioneering effort of 

 great effectiveness, both to the Navy and to the country. 

 Of special importance was its timeliness. 



For the Navy it identified and endorsed the importance of 

 basic research as an important key to the solution of rapidly 

 unfolding developmental problems associated with modern 

 sea-power, taking advantage of the lessons directly learned in 

 protracted and all-out naval warfare. It has provided in the 

 Navy a focal point for leadership and coordination of funda- 

 mental R and D essential to unified progress. It has recruited 

 and established an able group of civilian scientists and engi- 

 neers working in collaboration with young naval officers. It 

 organized a central office for taking care of patents and it has 

 provided a home for three effective research laboratories for 

 in-house research. 



