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Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Don Walsh, best known for his daring dive to the deepest spot on Earth, nearly 36,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, has died at age 92. Walsh was a co-pilot of the Trieste bathyscaphe, a deep submergence vehicle acquired by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in 1958. Two years later, on January 23, 1960, Walsh and Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard, son of the inventor of the bathyscaphe, became the first humans to descend into the Challenger Deep, located in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench. “ONR sponsored the Trieste, but it was then-Lt. Don Walsh who made the very daring decision to make the first descent into the deepest spot of the earth’s ocean. Walsh was a Navy officer, a submariner, an adventurer, and an oceanographer. To his family, we extend our deepest condolences and gratitude for allowing him to explore, and share his extraordinary experiences and knowledge with us,” said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus.

The proposed topic will explore and exploit the lack of underwater propulsion systems that can efficiently work across a wide variety of speeds over long distances. In particular, this effort is interested in a propulsion system able to transition between low and high speeds, to include the ability to stop and re-start at any time. Other desired characteristics will be briefed at the event. The program will pursue technologies and systems that support development and demonstration of a system that can propel an underwater vehicle in the ways listed. Further mission profile details will be provided at the Industry Day.

The Undersea Systems Focus Area addresses innovative affordable, persistent and stealthy undersea systems that leverage the asymmetric U.S. Navy advantage afforded by subsurface operations.​

The Office of Naval Research's Power Generation and Energy Storage program is focused on developing Navy power generation and energy storage systems and components to improve overall naval platform capability, efficiency and reliability.

The Office of Naval Research's Advanced Power and Energy for Undersea Applications program aims to develop component, subsystem and system technologies for advanced high-energy density and power density propulsion systems, and enabling increased endurance and reliability in an air-independent environment.

The Office of Naval Research's Navy Undersea Research Program (NURP), in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, sponsors science and engineering graduate students pursuing thesis topics in core undersea weaponry technology areas.

The Office of Naval Research Undersea Weapons Program develops technologies for current and next-generation, offensive and defensive weapons capable of engaging submarines, surface ships and threat torpedoes.

The goal of the Office of Naval Research's Undersea Signal Processing program is to develop signal processing algorithms that improve the Navy's ability to detect, identify and locate submarines in shallow and deep ocean environments.

The Office of Naval Research's Electric Power Components and Systems program supports the Navy’s interest in advanced naval power and energy systems research and technology.

The Office of Naval Research's Expeditionary Energy program seeks breakthrough technologies to support the future of hybrid and expeditionary warfare.