Our Mission
ONR was established in 1946 “…to foster, plan, facilitate and transition scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance to enable future naval power and the preservation of national security.“ ONR explores the cutting edge of S&T and strives to transition that S&T into acquisition programs. Further amplifying
ONR’s role in protecting our nation’s personnel and interests, ONR’s workforce of highly talented military leadership, program management staff and cadre of scientists and researchers provide technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy.
From Vision to Results – A Plan for Science & Technology
The Naval S&T Strategic Plan sets forth the S&T priorities of the Department of the Navy and describes how ONR invests in research with focus areas as follows:
- Assure Access to Maritime Battlespace
- Autonomy & Unmanned Systems
- Expeditionary & Irregular Warfare
- Information Dominance
- Platform Design & Survivability
- Power & Energy
- Power Projection & Integrated Defense
- Total Ownership Cost
- Warfighter Performance
While developing long-term technological advantages, ONR also maintains a strong emphasis on today’s need to pre-empt or defeat threats and forces operating within complex physical, cyber and social terrains. ONR does so by focusing on areas that provide the biggest payoff for the Navy and Marine Corps of the future, ensuring that it is innovative in its science and business processes, heightening S&T transitions to acquisition programs and into the Fleet, and recruiting the world’s brightest and best minds in S&T. Additionally, ONR coordinates naval investments in STEM education to foster student interest in the sciences, and a robust future S&T workforce. Programs in K-12, high school and higher education can be found at www.Stem2Stern.org
Leadership Team
Key Facts about ONR
- Headquartered in Arlington, Va.
- Fiscal 2011 budget of ~ $1.9B
- ONR Population; 1,065
―40% civilian employees
―40% contractor
―11% detailees/Interagency Personnel Agreement
― 4% interns/students
― 3% military
― 2% reimbursable
―185 P-38 reservists
- Ranked No. 1 Best Place to Work in the Navy, by the Partnership For Pubic Service
- Named most admired employer by readers of three national magazines
- No. 1 patent portfolio of government agencies as ranked by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Worldwide partnerships:
― 50 states, 30 countries
― 1,035 universities/nonprofits
― 914 companies
― 3,340 principal investigators
― 3,000 graduate students