[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH

  Mr. REED. Madam President, on behalf of Senator Inhofe and myself, as 
the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, 
we rise to commemorate and celebrate the Office of Naval Research and 
its contributions to our Sea Services, national defense, and the 
advancement of scientific and technological discovery on the occasion 
of its 75th anniversary.
  World War II underscored how science and technology could determine 
winners and losers on the battlefield. In the aftermath of the war, 
Congress established the Office of Naval Research on August 1, 1946, to 
``plan, foster, and encourage scientific research in recognition of its 
paramount importance as related to the maintenance of future naval 
power, and the preservation of national security.''
  Since then, the Office of Naval Research has been at the forefront of 
groundbreaking research that has resulted in lasting military supremacy 
not only on and in the seas, but also in the skies, on land, and in 
space. Its model of effective collaboration between military, 
government, academic, and industry entities also paved the way for 
further technological advancement, recreated not only in the other 
military services but also through National Science Foundation and 
DARPA. Put simply, its impact is seen and felt not only in our Armed 
Forces, but in the lives of all Americans.
  In its earliest days, the Office of Naval Research pioneered key 
fields of computing and directed energy. The office brought humans to 
the highest heights and the deepest depths, and its work led to some of 
the most consequential technological advancements of the 20th century, 
including: the laser; Project Whirlwind, one of the first digital 
computers; the first autonomous robot; and the atomic clock, which made 
precision satellite navigation possible. The invention of virtually 
every important sensor and undersea vehicle that has allowed us to 
explore and better understand our vast oceans is a result of the 
stewardship of the Office of Naval Research.
  Moreover, nearly every platform used by the Navy and Marine Corps 
relies in some way on technology developed or advanced by the Office of 
Naval Research. From lifesaving medical advances such as QuikClot, to 
more lethal and effective ships and weapons, the Office of Naval 
Research has changed the way we fight and win wars. The Office of Naval 
Research will continue to shape the future as well; its programs are 
continuously advancing the fields of artificial intelligence, 
autonomous weaponry, networking, directed energy, warfighter 
performance, maritime awareness, and next-generation power.
  We are proud to honor the achievements of the Office of Naval 
Research, and we hope the Members of the Senate will join us in 
recognizing the incredible innovation and scientific leadership this 
distinguished organization has provided not only to our sailors, 
marines, soldiers, airmen, and guardians, but also to the American 
people over the past 75 years.

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