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INTRODUCTION TO THE CHARLES H. DAVIS LECTURE SERIES RADM A. J. BACIOCCO, JR. Chief, Naval Research IN 1976 THE OFFICE OF Naval Research celebrated its Thirtieth Anni- versary. One of the events commemorating the occasion was a sym- posium entitled "Science and the Future Navy."* A joint effort by ONR and the National Academy of Sciences, the symposium differed in one important respect from previous anniversary celebrations â the papers dealt with where we are going in science rather than where we have been. In other words, through a careful selection of speakers and topics we attempted to illuminate the technical challenges and opportunities facing the Navy and the nation in the years ahead. The reaction to the theme of the symposium and to the individual presentations was so positive that we subsequently initiated discussions with the National Academy of Sciences aimed at identifying some mechanism whereby a similar dialogue between the nation's top scientists and Navy personnel could be continued on a regular basis. These discussions ultimately resulted in the establishment of the Charles H. Davis Lecture Series, jointly supported by the Office of Naval Research and the National Academy of Sciences, and at present scheduled to be given twice each year to the students and faculty of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College. The decision to establish the Charles H. Davis Lecture Series is a recognition that the Navy has a vital interest in the health, the innovativeness, and the aggressiveness of American science. It is a ' "Science and the Future Navy â A Symposium," National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., 1977. 11
recognition that only through the wise and timely utilization of the products and insights of science can the Navy continue to exercise its global responsibilities. It is a recognition that with "wise and timely" utilization comes an ever more complex and technically sophisticated Navy. And perhaps of greater importance, it is a recognition that not only must the present and future generations of naval officers and enlisted personnel be technically trained, but they must be receptive and enthusiastic in matters of science if we are to realize the operational efficiency and the leverage that science offers and that we must emphasize if we are to maintain our present position relative to the other navies of the world. It is out of this recognition of the growing need for technically as well as operationally proficient naval personnel that we chose to name the lecture series in honor of Rear Admiral Charles H. Davis. As his friend and colleague Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont, described him, Admiral Davis was "a man of science and a practical officer, keeping the love of science subordinate to the regular duties of his profession." Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 16, 1807, Davis studied mathematics at Harvard and is listed with the class of 1825. With his appointment as a midshipman in 1823 he began a career that lasted until his death in 1877 as the senior Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy. During Admiral Davis' seventeen years at sea he held many important positions and commands. He played a significant role in developing the naval strategy of the Civil War. He participated in the successful operations against Hatteras Inlet and Port Royal Channel and commanded the Mississippi Flotilla, which successfully engaged the Confederate fleet near Fort Pillow and brought about the surrender of Memphis. But, throughout his long career Admiral Davis continued his study of mathematics, astronomy, and hydrology and wrote a number of important papers. He was appointed head of the newly created Department of Navigation in 1862, and in 1865 he became the superintendent of the Naval Observatory â a post he held until his death. But, Admiral Davis' greatest achievement, and the one that best demonstrates his scientific statesmanship and his long view of the importance of science to the Navy and the nation, was the role he played in the establishment of the National Academy of Sciences under a congressional charter signed by President Lincoln in 1863. Working with colleagues such as Louis Agassiz, Joseph Henry, and Alexander Bache, Admiral Davis played a vital role in the negotiations that led to the creation of an institution charged with fostering the orderly development of science and its use for human welfare and with advising the federal government on matters relating to science and engineering. We believe that Admiral Davis 12
justly deserves the honor we have bestowed on him and that his career symbolizes the objectives of this lecture series. It is my privilege today to introduce the first lecturer in the Charles H. Davis Series. We are very fortunate to have as our first speaker a man who represents the full sweep of American science and engineering. He is a biochemist by formal training, receiving his doctorate from the University of Illinois in 1939. Much of his distinguished career was spent at the Duke University School of Medicine beginning as an instructor and finally as Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry. In 1969 he became the President of the National Academy of Sciences â a position he still holds. He has authored over 200 technical papers and several books. His honors and awards are impressive and far too numerous to recount here. It is my pleasure and honor to introduce the President of the National Academy of Sciences â Dr. Philip Handler. 13
DR. PHILIP HANDLER
