T h e B lack Vault The Black Vault is the larges t o n l ine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military. Discover the Truth a t : h t tp://www.theblackvault.com This document is made av a i l a b l e through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: A S-ud-IyFrepare Uasbirztcn.D. Dect:-Dpic Reproduced Adva-va-'>ci -This "historical evaluation" Advanced Research management institution commissioned ARPA in recognition of the fact that remarkably little in the way of or institutional established Diretztors leadership bureaucratic standards, and activities organization concentrate research'. Department uniqueness frequently questioned. encountered throughout the-,&ys7 arbitrarily in earlier pleteness, In particular, no attempt interested information Congressional supplementary submissions a strictly chronolog- day-by-day substantial descriptive information information be understood. independent assessment scientific particular be cemprehensive developments undoubtedly are unavoidable -Incomplete Corrective welcomed.. of activities staggering. Discussion individual the length sent a reasonable profile. Apologies are offered in advance to those significant a fashion. The research examination and records, other Federal agency files, publtshed literature, and interviews discussions key individuals have worked in ARPA over the years or who haave been connected with are immense especially literature, relies very on discussions Directors, Directors, Scientists, directors, In particular, all of the unstintingly their time contributions the research. A special, R. Killian, Clark, USN r. William C. M. Young, USA (Ret.), LZSAF (Ret.) assistance in reconstructing surrounding the creation of operation. of chronological evolution. "break points" relatively to identify of particular all rather faithfu2.ly the broader organizational and policy has :fnctioned. Use of underlined or phrases in quotations taken from interviews to reflect the speakers. each chapter reference. The report the direction Approximately and one-half were provided the research. IDTIC TFf Unanmioncced Distribut!3i 6F CONTENTS PREFACE . . PERSPECTIVE AND SETTING . Overview ...... Budgetary/Adrmi[nistrative General R&D Environment A Chronological Overview 1........... .-7 October 1957-January 1958: The 1958-1959: Roy W. Johson, Director .1. 1960: Austin W. Betts, Director ......... Jack P. Ruina, Robert L. Sproull, and Chailes M. Eberhardt Rechtin, Directcr J. Lukasik, Sputnik: Fear and Consternation .... ..... 1-16 The Eisenhower Me Scientists .... II. THE DOD MOBILIZES Toward A "Special Projects Agency" ..... II-I McElroy Debates the Alternatives ......... II- The Secretary The Counterattack ................ The ARPA Concept is Validated ........... The Legal Niceties.............. Created. ... AREA' Open~ingthe Doors. Roy W. Johnson .I ..121 ARPA Organization......... Organizational Structure The Management Style. ....1....... ARPA Laboratories The Executive Agent System; Other Aspects of Management ....... ARPA's Objectives Establishment of "Natuztl" Limits on'ARPA's Growth ...... ....... COICNTSEIT' "SPACE" AGENCY: 1958-1959 .III-i The Space Program .. ...... ..-1 Presidential Approval .............. Scientific Satellites The Military Reconnaissance Satellites Other Satellite Programs ........... .I... ii.-16 ARPA's Space Policy Functiors...... .....I..111-19 Psychological NASA and the Battle for Space ARPA's Long-Term Space Program Concept ..111-31 Super Thrust Boosters ...... .......... 111-39 The Maneuverable, Recoverable The Program Ballistic Missile Defense ....... .......... III-49 Solid Propellant Chemistry ..... ......... 111-59 The Interdisciplinary Laboratories. ...111-65 W. Johnson: The Curtain IV. RETRE1CHMENT AND ACCOMDATION ......... .. IV-1 The Critchfield ,The Betts Selection ............. ..IV-3 Charter Revisicn ........... Betts' Perspectives on ARPA. . i .. .IV-7 Program Change During the Betts Period .... IV-11 Restructuring the ARPA-IDA Relationship............ .IV-13 Program Council .....Iv-18 Executive Agents........... ..... AfLWnru J. bDaroer AssOCLates, TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) IV. ,(Contir.u-ed) Propellant Arms Control Energy Conversion Reliability Studies (Project STRIVE) TORES Assigrment...... Departure . ARPA AS A TECHNOLOGICAL Directorship: TheSetting Organization and Management ARPA Priorities Program Management and the Use Service Agents in the Ruina Period ..... The Penetration Aids Assignment The "Negative Value" of DEFENDER. AGILE -Assignment AGILE Orgarization and Program Focus. The AR-15 Experiment......... Command and Control Research Behavioral Science Energy Conversion (LORRAINE) Atmospheric Physics. .. The TORES Transfer s Departure." VI. COW1TIflUIT. AND CONSOLIDATION The Sproull Setting -1963. The Sproull Appointment. The ARPA Style Internal Management. Programs in the Sproull Period Program Status Associates. TABLE OF COILTTS (Cont'd) VI. (Continued) Changes in DEFENDER Philosophy Threat ABM The Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory VELA Satellite Success Environmental Information Processing Beha-..oral Propellant Chemistry.. Energ7 Conversion s Departure Herzfeld Years: DDR&E Perspective Herzfeld's The Evolving in DEFENDER Large Aperture Information Processing Technology Initiation of ILLIAC-IV. Behavioral Herzfeld's Departure. Richard J. Barber Associates, Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'i) WEAERINGTHE The Rechtin Period: 1967-1970 The Setting Deployment Other Events....... The DDR&E' s Perspective. The Franken Interlude .......... .VIII--7 Managem,'nt of the Agency. The Maxsfield Amendment. .VIII-19 DOD Organizational in the Rechtin Period .... Transfer . 'Strategic Technology Office Power Laser- Monitoring Overseas Defense Research (AGILE).. Rural Security Program ........ :f AGILE's History . .. Advanced Engineering Information Processing Techniques........ The ILLIAC-IV Controversy Behavioral Sciences.. Postsciipt on the Rechtin Departure. SURVIVAL AND The Lukasik Years: The Setting Vie-%r of the AR.ARk ole...- Support for Basic Research Management Philosophy...... Organizational Structure. An ARPA Laboratory... Contractor Critique New ARPA Style. New ARPA Directive in the Lukasik Strategic Technology High Power Lasers J. Barber Associates, OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) (Continued) Tactical Technology .... .............. ... IX-34 Termination of the Overseas Defense Research Office ..... Nuclear Monitoring VELA Trar .fer Controversy Retrospect: ve Assessment Materials Scien-ues Information Processing Techniques ..... ...... Behavioral X. CONCLUDIlNG A Review of Perspectives The ARPA Role Responding to Technological Opportunities Service Gaps ............. Flexibility and Quick Reaction Capabilities. Presidential Issues ....... "Avoiding Technological Surprise".. ..... Deciding How to Evaluating What the Agency Has Done ..... Presenting ARPA's Record............. The Reader's A ARPA' Funding Through Fiscal Associates. 2ABLE OF FIGURES Figure Page I-i ARPA Prepared Budget/Administrative History. Table 1-1 1-2 Total Annual Federal R&D Expenditures: 1-3 Selected R&D Expenditures, Actual and Projected:, !-4 Selected R&D Expenditures, Actual and Projected: I-5 Selected R&D H=Tenditures, Actual and Projected: i-6 The ARPA Directors, 1958-1975 TII- authorization Text of DOD Directive Number February 7, 1958 (Establishing III-1 Advanced Research 11Trcjects Agency, Fizcal 111-2 Program Budget History During the Johnson Period 1II-4 111-3 Correlation Chart 111-5 IV-I Program Budget History During the Betts Period V-21 V-1 Piogram Budget History During the Ruina Period -v-16 VT-i Program Budget History During -he Sproull Period VII-1 Program Bu t History During-the Herzfeld Period VII'7 VIII-1 Pro&6.,am Budget .ictory Durig the Rechtin Period MI-28 IX-l Program Budget' History During the Lukask Period IX-19 X-1 Trend in ARPA Budget Requests Associares, PERSPECTIVE!, The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department Defense was This chronological of pronounced and downs, inclluding first hand relationships Presidents serious tnreats the Agency's existence. of choices the "broader" its impact is recognized day-to-day of running particular or agency. Accordingly throughout and activities the changing environments cohtext'quicklv, chapter pre- sents four Agancy and its s-.croundings: P&D environment the United ARPA's relationship (3) ARPA's leadership an overview the Agency as developed this report. Budgetary/Administrative along with and professional Figure I-1. in an ,atmosphere of urgency in Februrry the Agency