478 
on both a short-term and long-term scale, and 
assisting in the development and application of 
criteria for evaluating of research and develop- 
ment projects and programs. Funds should also be 
provided for studies, where necessary, to draw on 
competence outside the Federal Government. 
Both communication and staffing problems will 
become more severe as the program of growth 
described in this plan materializes, and their solu- 
tion is therefore a matter of some urgency. 
Finally, a word should be said on leadership of 
the program presented here. The ability of federal 
agencies and their boards and committees to make 
NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
wise decisions for implementing the plan depends 
critically on the quality of the scientist-administra- 
tors who hold posts of leadership. Their own sci- 
entific experience and ability should be sufficient 
to understand clearly the scientific impact of their 
decisions, arid their judgment should be clear 
enough to realize at the same time that the basis 
for their decisions in cases of conflict is pragmatic, 
not scientific, that the goals that guide them are 
national or agency goals, not scientific ones. It is 
therefore of utmost importance that the Federal 
Government attract scientist-administrators of this 
type into agency service. 
