Naval Research Advisory Committee

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Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC)

The Naval Research Advisory Committee was a civilian group that advised the U.S. Navy on science, technology, and research from 1946 until it was dissolved on April 1, 2019. Its mission was to understand the Navy and Marine Corps’ problems, stay up to date on current research and development, and provide independent, objective assessments through studies. It traces its name to the National Research Defense Committee of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. The committee was created in 1946 by Public Law 588, which also established the Office of Naval Research.

The NRAC could include up to 15 members appointed by the Secretary of the Navy, serving two-year terms, with one seat reserved for medicine. Initially, it advised the Chief of Naval Research, but in 1956 its role expanded to also advise the Chief of Naval Operations, at the request of Admiral Arleigh Burke. The group met quarterly and as needed, using panels to study a variety of topics in science and technology. Study topics included Disruptive Commercial Technologies (2008), Distributed Operations (2007), Lightening the Load (reducing the weight carried by Marines, 2007), and Future Fuels (2006). In 2009, members included retired Navy and Coast Guard admirals, retired Marine Corps generals, former DARPA program managers (including former DARPA Director and NRAC Chairman Frank Fernandez), and other experts.

The NRAC was terminated by acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan on April 1, 2019, following a memo dated February 21, 2019 from Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly.