ADDRESS TO THE 4TH U. S. NAVY SYMPOSIUM 

 ON MILITARY OCEANOGRAPHY 

 OPENING SESSION, DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUDITORIUM 

 WASHINGTON, D. C. - 10 MAY 196? 



■by 



Honorable Robert A. Prosch 

 Assistant Secretary of the Navy for 

 Research and Development 



Mr. Chairman, Admiral Waters, Captain Owen, 

 Gentlemen: 



Many things have happened since the last Symposium 

 on Military Oceanography was held a year ago at the 

 Naval Electronics Laboratory in San Diego. 



Superlatives are always suspect but I will risk one 

 and say that the year that has passed since then has 

 been the greatest year in the history of American ocea- 

 nography from an administrative and organizational stand- 

 point. The scientific, economic and national defense 

 benefits that will flow from this strengthened organiza- 

 tion in the field of oceanography cannot be far behind. 

 Since I am talking to a most knowledgeable group of ocean 

 scientists I need not go into detail about the events of 

 the past year. But I will tick off a few highlights Just 

 for the record. 



About a month after you last met, the so-called PSAC 

 report was published by the President's Science Advisory 

 Committee. It was entitled, "Effective Use of the Sea". 

 In it the Committee alternatively "pointed with pride" 

 and "viewed with alarm" in a report so informed and forth- 

 right that it is certain to affect the course of oceanog- 

 raphy for many a. year. 



Almost simultaneously with the release of the PSAC 

 report the President signed the Marine Resources and 

 Engineering Development Act of 1966-. This law, as you 

 know, set up a National Council headed by the Vice 

 President and made up of cabinet members and agency heads 

 with a major interest in oceanography. 



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