Reflections on Over Fifty Years in Research and Development

Résumé du livre

"This paper presents some thoughts about research in science and technology (S & T) gleaned from the author's more than 50 years working in scientific and engineering research -- first in the chemical industry, then at two different government laboratories, and later some years in S & T policy. It elaborates on a paper by Richard Chait in which he interviews three former S & T executives in the Department of Defense (DOD) on how to manage a research laboratory. In this paper, the author expands on the comments made to Dr. Chait and provides a broad context for the discussion. In addition, this paper connects a number of subjects discussed in several other papers published by the Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP). The objective is to provide some insights on what it is like to work in a scientific research establishment. The author's hope is that this will be of some value for the senior manager who has no laboratory experience but is responsible for overseeing a research department, and that the paper will help new technical personnel just entering the laboratory for the first time. For experienced laboratory staff, the paper will contain many familiar ideas and perhaps some that are controversial. Some of the paper deals with the DOD technical programs."--Introduction.