From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia (Ballston), is the office within the U.S. Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps through schools, universities, government laboratories, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

ONR, as it is frequently referred to, reports to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy through the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. It executes its mission through:

• Science & Technology Departments
• ONR Corporate Programs
• Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
• ONR Global Office

Contents 1 The Office of Naval Research 2 Science and Technology Departments 3 ONR Corporate Programs: Research & Education 4 Naval Research Laboratory 5 ONR Global 6 Gallery 7 External links

ONR was authorized by an Act of Congress, and subsequently approved by President Truman on August 1, 1946, with the stated mission of "planning, fostering, and encouraging scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance as related to the maintenance of future naval power and the preservation of national security."

Today, ONR carries out its mission by funding (through grants and contracts) world-class scientists, technologists, and engineers who perform basic research, technology development, and advanced technology demonstrations.
More than 50 researchers have won a Nobel Prize for their ONR-funded work.

ONR has six science and technology departments that fund basic research programs, primarily through U.S. universities; technology research programs, primarily through government and nongovernment laboratories; and, advanced technology demonstration programs, primarily through U.S. industry and companies. The six departments support efforts span from combating terrorism to oceanography and from sea warfare to life sciences.

Additionally, ONR has an Office of Transition that supports technology transitions to the Navy and Marine Corps; a Small Business Innovative Research Office that encourages small businesses to develop and commercialize products in support of ONR’s mission; a Future Naval Capabilities Program that works to provide technologies to close warfighting gaps; and a Corporate Programs Office that supports cross-disciplinary research and education programs.

In general, corporate programs are designed to increase the numbers and capabilities of engineers, scientists, and government personnel available to carry out efforts that support national defense and to provide evolutionary and often revolutionary technological capabilities to the United States Navy and Marine Corps. To accomplish this, ONR supports many Corporate research and education programs:

• Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP)
• Multidisciplinary Research Program of the URI (MURI)
• Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) of the URI
• DoD Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCOR)
• Young Investigator Program
• DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program of the URI
• Summer Faculty Research Program
• Faculty Sabbatical Leave Program
• Naval High School Science Awards Program
• HBCU (Historically Black Colleges/Universities)Future Engineering Faculty Fellowship Program
• Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP) (Run by ONR, funded by the American Society for Engineering Education)

Founded in 1923, NRL employs roughly 1,500 scientists and engineers. NRL is the corporate research laboratory for the Navy and Marine Corps and conducts a broad program of scientific research, technology and advanced development. It has a prestigious history, including the development of the first U.S. radar system, developing synthetic lubricants (for modern gas turbine engines), over-the-horizon radar, the first US surveillance satellite, and the Clementine mission. A few of the Laboratory's current specialties include plasma physics, space physics, materials science, and tactical electronic warfare.

The U.S. Office of Naval Research Global provides worldwide science & technology-based solutions to current and future Naval challenges. ONR Global combines the expertise of over 40 scientists, technologists, and engineers with a physical presence on five continents. The ONR Global team is committed to working with the broad global technical community and the operational Fleet/Force commands to foster cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to bring the full range of possibility to the Navy and Marine Corps.

ONR Global regional offices are located in:

• London, U.K. (Europe)
• Santiago, Chile (Latin America)
• Tokyo, Japan (Asia/Pacific)
• Australia (Asia/Pacific)
• Singapore (South Asia/Singapore)

Tomahawk TLAM launching

ONR Sea Flyer, which is fitted with an underwater lifting body, causing it to rise out of the water at speed. Photographed off coast of San Diego.

• Office of Naval Research Homepage
• Naval Research Laboratory Homepage