Perspectives on Naval Research 129 



needs, such as rockets and electronics to launch satellite com- 

 munication systems, or ships and missiles which give force to 

 our voice in the rivalry of nations. The long-term gains, on the 

 other hand, have to do with the state of a technology, richly 

 branching toward the future, with the vitality of industry and 

 commerce, and with the assurance of the health and welfare of 

 our entire population in the face of mounting problems, as well 

 as opportunities. Science and technology have become essential 

 pillars of our society and society is therefore willing to provide 

 strong support. 



Historically, the urgent need for new choices in defense tech- 

 nology has set the pace for Federal support of science; and 

 scientists have applied themselves most successfully in translat- 

 ing basic work into solutions of practical military value to the 

 government. More and more, however, attention is turning to 

 other problems of society: — problems of management of the 

 economy, problems related to the dissipation or conversely the 

 exploitation of natural resources, problems of the social struc- 

 ture itself. The concentration of government support of re- 

 search through defense agencies and defense-related fields can 

 be expected to shift, but we cannot yet state clearly how far 

 and in what manner. 



I have described a constantly shifting situation in the rela- 

 tionship between government and the scientific community. It 

 is a relationship that becomes increasingly complex, with more 

 diverse channels of communication, more avenues of support, 

 and more interested voices speaking with varying degrees of 

 authority. Twenty years after its founding, the Office of Naval 

 Research exists in an environment vastly different from the one 

 in which it was created — an environment, however, which 

 ONR has helped to create. Twenty years ago, ONR was the 

 dominant voice of government in the support of basic research. 

 Today it is not, and properly so, for the Navy should not be 

 expected to shoulder the rapidly growing responsibility for all 

 of science and technology. Research capability is a national re- 

 source, to be maintained, augmented, and put to use by all 



