Office of Naval Research
Encyclopedia
The Office of Naval Research (ONR), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia (Ballston
), 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. 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. The Chief of Naval Research (CNR) is Rear Adm. Nevin P. Carr. The Vice Chief of Naval Research is BGen Mark R. Wise, United States Marine Corps, who also serves as Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL).
ONR executes its mission through:
In 2007, a Naval S&T Strategic Plan was developed to describe how ONR will enable the future operational concepts of the Navy and the Marine Corps. This plan was updated in 2009 and 2011. By design, it is a broad strategy that provides strong direction for the future, but it is aimed to retain sufficient flexibility and freedom of action to allow ONR to meet emerging challenges or alter course as directed by senior Naval leadership.
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.
Continuous investment in new and innovative technology enables ONR to build and maintain the world’s most capable Navy. Its focus is long term, yet it is highly responsive to near-term Naval needs. ONR's balanced S&T Portfolio is allocated to meet the broad spectrum of warfighter requirements:
10% Quick Reaction
30% S&T Acquisition Enablers
10% Leap Ahead Innovations
40% Discovery & Invention (Basic and Applied Science)
10% Other
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.
s and engineer
s. 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 U.S. 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.
ONR Global regional offices are located in:
ONR Global is a supporter of the Global Security Challenge
at the London Business School
.
ONR’s investments have enabled many firsts, including the launch of the first U.S. intel satellite; the development of SEALAB
I/II; the validation of the GPS concept and launch of the first GPS satellite; the first global atmospheric prediction model; GWOT support through various quick response programs; and, most recently, the Electromagnetic Railgun
, the Infantry Immersive Trainer and Super-conducting Motors. Others include:
Ballston, Virginia
Ballston is a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia and is home to the Ballston-MU station on the Orange Line of the Metrorail subway system.-History:...
), is the office within the United States Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
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. The Chief of Naval Research (CNR) is Rear Adm. Nevin P. Carr. The Vice Chief of Naval Research is BGen Mark R. Wise, United States Marine Corps, who also serves as Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL).
ONR executes its mission through:
- Science & Technology Departments
- ONR Corporate Programs
- Naval Research LaboratoryUnited States Naval Research LaboratoryThe United States Naval Research Laboratory is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps and conducts a program of scientific research and development. NRL opened in 1923 at the instigation of Thomas Edison...
(NRL) - ONR Global Office
In 2007, a Naval S&T Strategic Plan was developed to describe how ONR will enable the future operational concepts of the Navy and the Marine Corps. This plan was updated in 2009 and 2011. By design, it is a broad strategy that provides strong direction for the future, but it is aimed to retain sufficient flexibility and freedom of action to allow ONR to meet emerging challenges or alter course as directed by senior Naval leadership.
The Office of Naval Research
ONR was authorized by an Act of Congress, Public Law 588, and subsequently approved by President Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
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.
Continuous investment in new and innovative technology enables ONR to build and maintain the world’s most capable Navy. Its focus is long term, yet it is highly responsive to near-term Naval needs. ONR's balanced S&T Portfolio is allocated to meet the broad spectrum of warfighter requirements:
10% Quick Reaction
30% S&T Acquisition Enablers
10% Leap Ahead Innovations
40% Discovery & Invention (Basic and Applied Science)
10% Other
Science and Technology Departments
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.
ONR Corporate Programs: Research & Education
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 (MURIMuriMuri, Formerly known as Muri , is a municipality in southeastern Swiss Canton Aargau and is the capital of same district. The present municipality of Muri was created in 1816 from the merging of the four municipalities Langdorf, Egg, Hasli and Wey....
) - 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 ApprenticeEngineering apprenticeAn engineering apprenticeship is an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. A typical example is the apprenticeships formerly available at the BTH and EEC at Rugby in England...
Program (SEAP) (Run by ONR, funded by the American Society for Engineering Education)
Naval Research Laboratory
Founded in 1923, NRL employs roughly 1,500 scientistScientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s. 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
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
system, developing synthetic lubricants
Synthetic oil
Synthetic oil is a lubricant consisting of chemical compounds that are artificially made . Synthetic lubricants can be manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components rather than whole crude oil, but can also be synthesized from other raw materials...
(for modern gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
engines), over-the-horizon radar
Over-the-horizon radar
Over-the-horizon radar, or OTH , is a design concept for radar systems to allow them to detect targets at very long ranges, typically up to thousands of kilometers...
, the first U.S. surveillance satellite
Spy satellite
A spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications....
, and the Clementine mission
Clementine mission
Clementine was a joint space project between the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and NASA...
. A few of the Laboratory's current specialties include plasma physics, space physics, materials science, and tactical electronic warfare.
ONR Global
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)
ONR Global is a supporter of the Global Security Challenge
Global Security Challenge
The Global Security Challenge runs international business plan competitions to find and select the most promising security technology startups in the world. The GSC holds regional selection events and a Security Summit in London to bring together innovators with government, industry and investors...
at the London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
.
Past and Ongoing Projects
SEALAB (United States Navy)
SEALAB I, II, and III were experimental underwater habitats developed by the United States Navy to prove the viability of saturation diving and humans living in isolation for extended periods of time...
I/II; the validation of the GPS concept and launch of the first GPS satellite; the first global atmospheric prediction model; GWOT support through various quick response programs; and, most recently, the Electromagnetic Railgun
Railgun
A railgun is an entirely electrical gun that accelerates a conductive projectile along a pair of metal rails using the same principles as the homopolar motor. Railguns use two sliding or rolling contacts that permit a large electric current to pass through the projectile. This current interacts...
, the Infantry Immersive Trainer and Super-conducting Motors. Others include: