Naval Research Advisory Committee

The Naval Research Advisory Committee (NRAC) is a civilian advisory committee to the United States Navy.

The committee was established in 1946 by Public Law 588, which also created the Office of Naval Research. Members are appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to a two-year term, with membership limited by law to 15 members preeminent in the fields of science, research, and development, with one member specializing in medicine. At first the committee focused on advising the Chief of Naval Research, but in 1956 it took on a broader role at the request of Admiral Arleigh Burke, then Chief of Naval Operations.

The committee normally meets quarterly and when called by the Committee Chairperson; through its panels it provides advice on a variety of topics in science, research, and development. Recent study topics include Disruptive Commercial Technologies (2008), Distributed Operations (2007), Lightening the Load (reducing the weight carried by individual combat Marines (2007) and Future Fuels (2006). In 2009, membership includes retired Navy and Coast Guard Admirals, retired US Marine Corps Generals, past Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Program Managers including former DARPA Director and current NRAC Chairman Frank Fernandez and an interactive application/film producer (James Korris).