Issue 123 - 09 Nov 98
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OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH RECEIVES FORD FOUNDATION AWARD
On October 22, 1998 the Ford Foundation announced that the Best Manufacturing Practices Program (BMP) at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) had been named one of ten winners of the Innovations in American Government Awards. The awards, administered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government, recognizes the most outstanding, innovative government programs at the federal, state, and local levels.
"ONR's Best Manufacturing Practices Program is a unique technology and knowledge transfer program that promotes sharing of technology and knowledge, even between competitors," said Rear Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, Chief of Naval Research. "Working with a small annual investment, the BMP Program has built a national, voluntary network of representatives from industry, academia and the military who are committed to excellence and actively working to keep America strong and globally competitive."
Located near the University of Maryland in College Park, the Office of Naval Research BMP Program helps identify and document "best practices" and then encourages industry and academia to employ those practices to develop the most globally competitive products while supplying the Navy with the best products and services at the best prices.
"Twelve years ago, we chose to recognize government innovation because few others were saying positive things about government," said Susan Berresford, President of the Ford Foundation. "Programs like the Navy's Best Manufacturing Practices serve as continuing examples of government as a creative force applying effective solutions to real problems."
With the award, ONR will also receive an $100,000 grant to be used toward replicating its program in other areas.
