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operated and maintained at sea by Naval officers and enlisted men who, although specially trained, were not physicists or scientists. Although application of nuclear power to submarines was a major challenge, it was generally recognized that success would transform submarine warfare. Submerged operation of submarines of the World War II era was limited by battery power and was measured in hours to a few days. Because nuclear fission produced heat without consuming oxygen, a true submarine was possible, one which could remain submerged and steam at sustained high speed for long periods.
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252:, which partly replaced the AEC. In 1977, ERDA was combined with the Federal Energy Administration to form the U.S. Department of Energy. On the Navy side of the organization, the Bureau of Ships has transitioned since the 1950s to become the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), within which NR is Code 08, usually abbreviated NAVSEA 08 or SEA 08.
243:
Within seven years of its inception, the organization had moved from almost nothing to put into operation the nation's first power reactor in an astounding engineering achievement. The following four years would see three more nuclear submarines and two reactor plant prototypes operating and another
176:
These problems were even more difficult for submarine application since the reactor and its associated steam plant had to fit within the confines of the comparatively small hull, and be able to withstand extreme battle shock incident to the operation of combatant ships. The propulsion plant had to be
271:
commissioned the creation of two related historical records to capture important facts of both naval nuclear propulsion and the
Shippingport commercial reactor. Both of these official documents necessarily contain a good deal of information on Rickover's choices, methods and technical philosophy in
288:
Many books (including those referenced below) and articles have been written about core NR management principles such as attention to detail and adherence to rigidly-defined standards and specifications, as well as the organization's unique (for government) personnel practices. NR staff and alumni
195:
Progress was made quickly with countless technological and engineering questions being raised, assessed, and resolved. The whole program was a prime example of what would now be called concurrent engineering with the prototype being prepared as the design progressed and construction of the first
172:
As of 1947, there was only limited experience with nuclear reactors. The United States had three reactors for producing nuclear material for atomic weapons, and five small research reactors. There was no readily available knowledge on operating a reactor that would produce power in a usable
272:
the development of practical nuclear power, but are not biographies. While
Rickover cooperated to provide real-time access to facilities, people and records, according to the authors he did not edit; Rickover was in-fact deceased before the second document was completed. These are: (1)
289:(including Admiral Rickover himself) have often been called by Congress, the President and other government agencies to provide expert opinion and management support to other important government programs, most notably the large scale reviews following the destruction of the
173:
form. Developing a power reactor would require new corrosion resistant metals which could sustain prolonged periods of intense radiation, thick shielding to protect personnel from radiation, and new components which would operate safely and reliably.
168:
and assigning it responsibilities for nuclear reactor plant development. Later that month, Chief of Naval
Operations, Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, approved a program for the design and development of nuclear power plants in submarines.
259:
into an unprecedented tenure as head of Naval
Reactors whereby he could not be relieved by conventional military procedures. He was promoted, partially as a result of Congressional involvement, until he reached the rank of full
200:) progressing close behind. The results were an astoundingly successful and a testament to Rickover's style of management and getting complex engineering done. The results achieved from 1949 - 1955 speak for themselves:
247:
The office was originally a joint activity of the U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC) and the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ships. When the AEC was abolished, Naval Reactors became a joint effort of the Navy and the
161:'s concept of a nuclear-powered submarine. The consensus of the group was that the technical difficulties could be overcome, and nuclear power could be used as a means for propelling Navy ships.
904:
824:"Economics of Defense Policy: Adm. H.G. Rickover : Hearing Before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, Ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session"
105:) on October 19, 1984 in order to assist them in the research, design, development, health, and safety matters pertaining to naval nuclear propulsion plants via
56:(NA-30). Moreover, the Director of Naval Reactors also serves as a special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Naval Nuclear Propulsion (Code N00N).
69:. The director serves for a nominal eight-year term of office, the longest standard assignment in the U.S. military. The program was originally created under
244:
seven ships and two prototypes being built. To date, more reactors have been built and safely operated by the NR program than any other US program.
267:
The history of nuclear propulsion and
Rickover's influence and involvement is substantial. Due to the importance and impact of nuclear power, the
249:
153:, Tennessee, to study the potential of using nuclear energy to power ships. The Navy group organized themselves under then Captain
1190:
44:, is an umbrella term for the U.S. government office that has comprehensive responsibility for the safe and reliable operation of the
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1185:
1159:
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53:
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189:
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48:'s nuclear reactors "from womb to tomb." A single entity, it has authority and reporting responsibilities within both the
300:. NR alumni have also founded or led numerous corporate and industrial organizations, for example MPR Associates, Inc.
130:
106:
98:
1082:
80:, on February 1, 1982. The director was concurrently assigned as the deputy administrator for Naval Reactors for the
962:
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192:
and then assumed control of the Navy's effort as
Director of the Naval Reactors Branch in the Bureau of Ships.
74:
438:
150:
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280:
by
Francis Duncan. The AEC makes both of these documents directly available to the public in digital form.
20:
538:
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126:
688:
1140:
Against the Tide: Rickover's
Leadership Principles and the Rise of the Nuclear Navy, David Oliver, 2014
1135:
Running
Critical: The Silent War, Rickover, and General Dynamics, Patrick Tyler, Harper & Row, 1986
921:
114:
85:
239:
May 1955 - Nautilus submerged 1,100 nm transit from New London CT to San Juan Puerto Rico in 90 hours
185:
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Shipyards that build, overhaul and service the propulsion plants of naval nuclear-powered vessels
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Admiral Rickover parlayed an impressive personal publicity effort and intensive links with the
197:
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and held the position for over 30 years from 1949 to February 1, 1982 (when he was retired).
149:
decided to send five officers (including then Captain Hyman Rickover) and three civilians to
837:
318:
8:
339:
The Director of Naval Reactors also concurrently serves as a Deputy Administrator of the
303:, founded by three of Admiral Rickover's leading technical managers in NR's early days.
851:
754:
604:
60:
45:
188:. In February 1949 he received an assignment to the Division of Reactor Development,
1078:
994:
454:
404:
181:
154:
146:
1109:, Francis Duncan and Richard G. Hewlett, Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MD), 1974
1125:
Rickover - The Struggle for Excellence, Francis Duncan, Naval Institute Press, 2001
1119:
Against the Tide: Rickover's Leadership Principles and the Rise of the Nuclear Navy
225:
94:
134:
110:
102:
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212:
70:
158:
63:
1145:
Admiral Hyman Rickover: Engineer of Power, Marc Wortman, Yale Univ Press, 2022
1169:
1041:
1030:"A Description of the Naval Nuclear Power Program" H. G. Rickover taken from
290:
77:
865:
1130:
Rickover: Controversy and Genius, Norman Polmar, Simon & Schuster, 1982
554:
504:
205:
1032:
Jan 28, 1982 Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee 97th Congress
276:
by AEC staff historians Richard G. Hewlett and Francis Duncan, and (2)
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The Atomic Submarine and Admiral Rickover, Clay Blair, H. Holt, 1954
796:
794:
1040:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
261:
113:. Executive Order 12344 was made a permanent federal program via
1103:, Theodore Rockwell, Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MD), 1992
1014:
791:
324:
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Headquarters and field offices
1115:, Francis Duncan, Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MD), 1990
852:"Naval Sea Systems Command > Who We Are > Headquarters"
1113:
Rickover and the Nuclear Navy: The Discipline of Technology
278:
Rickover and the Nuclear Navy: The Discipline of Technology
1121:, Dave Oliver, Naval Institute Press (Annapolis, MD), 2014
25:
218:
March 1953 - Prototype initial critical reactor operation
1154:
145:
In June 1946, the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Adm.
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283:
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January 1955 - Nautilus "Underway on nuclear power"
233:
December 1954 - Nautilus initial critical operation
1101:The Rickover Effect: How One Man Made a Difference
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115:
86:
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312:Research, development, and support laboratories
184:quickly became the principal early advocate of
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250:Energy Research and Development Administration
164:On January 1, 1947, Congress established the
315:Nuclear Component Procurement Organization
221:June 1953 - Prototype full power operation
978:National Nuclear Security Administration
341:National Nuclear Security Administration
82:National Nuclear Security Administration
54:National Nuclear Security Administration
24:
1077:. IUniverse, Lincoln, NE. p. 155.
1015:"Naval Reactors Historical Association"
973:
971:
321:and Naval Reactors training facilities.
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950:"Executive Orders | National Archives"
230:September 1954 - Nautilus commissioned
190:United States Atomic Energy Commission
1155:Naval Reactors Historical Association
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1054:
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1026:
1024:
1009:
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997:" Dr Phillip Abelson, March 28, 1946
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327:Naval support facilities and tenders
224:January 1954 - Nautilus launched by
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284:Management and personnel principles
13:
1191:United States Department of Energy
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1021:
1000:
802:"Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program"
120:Tooltip Public Law (United States)
91:Tooltip Public Law (United States)
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804:. Naval Nuclear Laboratory. 2020
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208:prototype construction started
59:Naval Reactors is headed by a
1:
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697:Caldwell, James Franklin Jr.
420:~ 33 years, 0 days
21:United States naval reactors
7:
1073:Rockwell, Theodore (2002).
995:The Atomic Energy Submarine
838:"ADM Hyman George Rickover"
720:8 years, 149 days
670:2 years, 285 days
620:7 years, 363 days
520:7 years, 341 days
470:6 years, 264 days
196:nuclear powered submarine (
10:
1207:
570:8 years, 39 days
140:
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880:"NNSA Organization Chart"
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186:nuclear marine propulsion
50:Naval Sea Systems Command
40:), which administers the
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647:Richardson, John Michael
180:Captain (later Admiral)
166:Atomic Energy Commission
1107:Nuclear Navy: 1946-1962
984:- NNSP official website
274:Nuclear Navy, 1946-1962
922:"NNBE Progress Report"
597:Donald, Kirkland Hogue
257:United States Congress
30:
16:U.S. government office
963:Executive Order 12344
705:James F. Caldwell Jr.
319:Nuclear power schools
28:
905:"General Management"
447:McKee, Kinnaird Rowe
129:of October 5, 1999 (
1075:The Rickover Effect
866:"Powering the Navy"
747:Houston, William J.
29:Naval Reactors logo
1176:Nuclear propulsion
1034:2nd Session Part 1
755:William J. Houston
655:John M. Richardson
605:Kirkland H. Donald
397:Rickover, Hyman G.
215:lays Nautilus keel
46:United States Navy
31:
982:Powering the Navy
952:. 15 August 2016.
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564:27 September 1996
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547:Bowman, Frank Lee
517:27 September 1996
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455:Kinnaird R. McKee
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405:Hyman G. Rickover
335:List of directors
182:Hyman G. Rickover
147:Chester W. Nimitz
52:(SEA 08) and the
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159:Philip Abelson
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131:50 U.S.C.
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99:50 U.S.C.
34:Naval Reactors
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124:106–65 (text)
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78:Ronald Reagan
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73:12344 by the
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965:archives.gov
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932:. Retrieved
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887:. Retrieved
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806:. Retrieved
767:
753:
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505:Bruce DeMars
503:
453:
403:
377:Term length
374:Left office
371:Took office
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211:June 1952 -
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760:(born 1968)
710:(born 1959)
660:(born 1960)
610:(born 1953)
560:(born 1944)
510:(1935–2024)
460:(1929–2013)
410:(1900–1986)
360:Commission
206:S1W reactor
135:§ 2511
111:§ 7158
103:§ 2406
1170:Categories
1095:References
1063:energy.gov
884:energy.gov
808:25 October
298:Challenger
19:See also:
768:Incumbent
365:Portrait
354:Director
151:Oak Ridge
75:President
64:four-star
929:nasa.gov
294:Columbia
155:Rickover
934:18 June
889:18 June
826:. 1982.
750:Admiral
700:Admiral
650:Admiral
600:Admiral
550:Admiral
500:Admiral
450:Admiral
400:Admiral
262:Admiral
141:History
116:Pub. L.
87:Pub. L.
67:admiral
1081:
775:1990 (
723:1981 (
673:1982 (
623:1975 (
573:1966 (
523:1957 (
473:1951 (
423:1922 (
133:
122:
109:
101:
95:98–525
93:
925:(PDF)
908:(PDF)
786:Notes
777:NROTC
575:NROTC
368:Name
357:Term
127:(PDF)
1079:ISBN
936:2023
891:2023
810:2020
725:USNA
675:USNA
625:USNA
525:USNA
475:USNA
425:USNA
296:and
84:via
61:Navy
350:No.
269:AEC
137:).
1172::
1049:^
1023:^
1002:^
980:,
970:^
927:.
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793:^
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38:NR
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