Naval Research Advisory Committee
Encyclopedia
The Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) is a civilian advisory committee to the United States Navy
.
The committee was established in 1946 by Public Law 588, which also created the Office of Naval Research
. Members are appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to a two-year term, with membership limited by law to 15 members preeminent in the fields of science, research, and development, with one member specializing in medicine. At first the committee focused on advising the Chief of Naval Research, but in 1956 it took on a broader role at the request of Admiral Arleigh Burke
, then Chief of Naval Operations
.
The committee normally meets quarterly and when called by the Committee Chairperson; through its panels it provides advice on a variety of topics in science, research, and development. Recent study topics include Disruptive Commercial Technologies (2008), Distributed Operations (2007), Lightening the Load (reducing the weight carried by individual combat Marines (2007) and Future Fuels (2006). In 2009, membership includes retired Navy and Coast Guard Admirals, retired US Marine Corps Generals, past Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) Program Managers including former DARPA Director and current NRAC Chairman Frank Fernandez and an interactive application/film producer (James Korris
).
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
The committee was established in 1946 by Public Law 588, which also created the Office of Naval Research
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research , headquartered in Arlington, Virginia , is the office within the United States Department of the Navy that coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the U.S...
. Members are appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to a two-year term, with membership limited by law to 15 members preeminent in the fields of science, research, and development, with one member specializing in medicine. At first the committee focused on advising the Chief of Naval Research, but in 1956 it took on a broader role at the request of Admiral Arleigh Burke
Arleigh Burke
Admiral Arleigh Albert '31-knot' Burke was an admiral of the United States Navy who distinguished himself during World War II and the Korean War, and who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations.-Early life and naval career:Burke was born in Boulder,...
, then Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
.
The committee normally meets quarterly and when called by the Committee Chairperson; through its panels it provides advice on a variety of topics in science, research, and development. Recent study topics include Disruptive Commercial Technologies (2008), Distributed Operations (2007), Lightening the Load (reducing the weight carried by individual combat Marines (2007) and Future Fuels (2006). In 2009, membership includes retired Navy and Coast Guard Admirals, retired US Marine Corps Generals, past Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of new technology for use by the military...
(DARPA) Program Managers including former DARPA Director and current NRAC Chairman Frank Fernandez and an interactive application/film producer (James Korris
James Korris
James H. Korris, a pioneer of the current trend in game-based simulation for military training, served as Creative Director of the Institute for Creative Technologies , University of Southern California in Los Angeles from its founding in August 1999 until October 2006...
).