374 



(The biographical sketch of Mr. Pierce follows :) 



Biographical Sketch of Rogee J, Pieece 



Mr. Pierce is a businessman/scientist and is President and founder of Hydro- 

 Space Systems Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This company is four years 

 old, and its main thrust is in the field of advanced projects in oceanography. 

 He is a veteran with 35 years' experience as an engineer and administrator in ad- 

 vanced electronics systems for the commercial, military and space programs. 



His past assignments have been with Collins Radio Company, Harvard Uni- 

 versity and Motorola, Inc. until he founded Hydro-Space in 1964. He is an inven- 

 tor and holds several U.S. patents related to electronics, missile systems, and 

 oceanographic vehicles. He is also an author of several technical articles in his 

 field which have been published nationally. 



He is a charter member of The Marine Technology Society, member of The 

 American Association for Advancement of Science and of the honorary scientific 

 fraternity Sigma Xi and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 

 Engineers. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you, Mr. Culver. 



We are delighted to have Mr. Pierce. 



Mr. Pierce, I see you have a prepared statement. 



Do we have the resume of Mr. Pierce's biographical information ? 



STATEMENT OE ROGEE J. PIERCE, PRESIDENT, HYDROSPACE 

 SYSTEMS CORP., CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 



Mr. Pierce. The resume is in the back of the statement, ]Mr. 

 Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. We have a wonderful one given by your distinguished 

 representative, Mr. Culver. I am sure that will suffice. 



You may proceed, Mr. Pierce. 



Mr. Pierce. I should like to thank this committee for giving me the 

 opportunity to come here and giving you my views on the formation 

 of a National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency to lead the national 

 effort. 



In general, I support the recommendations of the Marine Science, 

 Engineering, and Resources Commission for the formation and fund- 

 ing of a National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency as the best plan for 

 national action to start substantive exploitation of the oceans. 



However, I differ somewhat from the Commission recommenda- 

 tions in two areas related to staffing of this agency and to the pro- 

 grams suggested. These are matters upon which I will discuss later on. 



Before doing so, I would like to express myself on some of the 

 socioeconomic-technological implications of the establishment of a 

 Central Government agency such as NOAA to lead the national effort 

 in the ocean challenge. 



private enterprise vis-a-vis government control 



Some fears have been expressed by a few groups in private enter- 

 prise and the scientific community that a Central Government agency 

 directing, sponsoring, and funding the ocean effort would be unduly 

 restrictive and inhibiting in the full free exercise of the prerogatives 

 of private enterprise in expanding the ocean effort. 



As one representative of private enterprise, I do not agree with this 

 position and feel that a NOAA would ultimately result in a greater 



