ONR History

Established on August 1, 1946, and authorized under Public Law 588, the Office of Naval Research has been a pioneer in the public support of science and technology research that benefits both the naval services as well as the nation. From investments in the earliest computers to spearheading seminal research in deep sea exploration to cultivating groundbreaking efforts in solid-state electronics and countless other innovations, ONR has been shaping the Navy and Marine Corps — and the world around us — for more than 75 years and counting.