102 Research and National Purpose 



duction of the contracting industry. But constant impedance 

 matching of the progressing system to the equally rapidly ad- 

 vancing scientific environment and proliferation of new options 

 has become another major function of these not-for-profit 

 enterprises. 



Thus, with respect to the national missile programs presently 

 being considered, both the Navy-sponsored Applied Physics 

 Laboratory of Johns Hopkins and the Air Force's Aerospace 

 Corporation have been established so that the most current 

 science could be continuously assessed regarding its applica- 

 tion for the major projects to which these institutions have 

 been assigned. In a study of some of these corporations, carried 

 out by an Ad Hoc Group of the Board of Visitors of the Air 

 Force Systems Command and recently issued by the Depart- 

 ment of the Air Force, we said "Above all, the Group asserts 

 that the nation is still in an evolutionary and experimental 

 phase of mobilizing its technical resources for countering the 

 constantly increasing threats posed by powerful advanced and 

 ingenious systems. . . . This independent and continuing pro- 

 duction of new options and expert reviewing of the progress 

 of science and engineering relevant to the military missions 

 form an essential basis for the technical planning which must 

 be undertaken. ... In summary, ^ve believe that the not-for- 

 profit institutions offer one practical and efficient method of 

 boldly mobilizing the essential resources required to accomplish 

 vital parts of the Air Force's systems planning and engineering 

 functions." 



But whatever may be the mechanisms of the future, these 

 new institutions already represent excellent opportunities. We 

 must expect and prepare for continuing revolutionary influ- 

 ences of new science on military systems conception, develop- 

 ment and acquisition. Indeed, with the expanding use of 

 incentive contracts for military systems development and pro- 

 duction, the necessity for recognized mechanisms such as the 

 nonprofit institutions has become even more compelling. For 

 through them, essential revisions of technology can occur dur- 



