February 16, 2005
Colloquium Topic: The Naval Studies Board and Its Views on Naval Issues
For 30 years the Naval Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences has provided independent, long-range, scientific and technical planning advice to the Navy and Marine Corps. As new operational challenges and technological opportunities have emerged, the NSB has accepted tasks involving virtually all scientific and engineering disciplines of interest to the Department of Navy. Recent Naval Studies Board topics, addressing current Department of Navy issues and its envisioned future, have included autonomous vehicles, theater air and missile defense, network-centric warfare and FORCEnet, sea basing, mine warfare, non-lethal weapons, the role of experimentation, the Navy's needs in space, and defense against chem./bio threats. Previous studies addressed the design and operation of satellites; C4I systems; stealth technology; atmospheric and subsurface sensors; ship, submarine, and aircraft architecture; and weapons development; among other subjects. Mr. Vitto served as Chairman of the Naval Studies Board for the past six years and was a member for almost 20 years. He will present an overview of past, current and future studies and discuss the impact recent studies have had on the Department of Navy.
Colloquium Speaker: Vincent Vitto
Mr. Vincent Vitto is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. (1997 - Present). He stepped down in December after six years as Chairman of the Naval Studies Board. He was formerly the Assistant Director for Surface Surveillance and Communications, MIT Lincoln Laboratory (1995 - 1997). Prior to that he was Head of the Communication Division, Lincoln Laboratory, 1988 - 1995; Associate Head of the Aerospace Division, Lincoln Laboratory, 1984 - 1988; and Leader of the Space Based Radar Technology Group, Lincoln Laboratory, 1982 - 1984. He has an M.S. in Physics from Northeastern University, 1973, and a B.S. in Physics from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, 1962. Mr. Vitto has been awarded the Meritorious Public Service Award, 1992, from the Navy, the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, 1998, from the Air Force, and the Superior Public Service Award, 2004, from the Navy. He is a Member of the Defense Science Board, 1998 - Present; Vice Chairman DSB, 2002 - Present; Member of the Naval Studies Board, National Research Council (NSB/NRC), 1989-2004; Chairman - Space Panel NSB, 1989 - 1994; Vice Chair NSB, 1998; Member of the National Associates of the National Academies, 2001 - Present; Member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, 1995 -1997; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1997 - Present; Fellow, 2003; Trustee, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1997 - Present. His specialties include Reentry Physics, Air Traffic Control, Radar Imaging, Airborne- and Space-Based Radar Systems, Satellite Communications, and Information Management and Control.