Page 11: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1988)

ing the life of the society. A video covering the same time period and a history of the society are also being prepared.

ASNE History

O ^eima, '*a8-19* 1888-1988

The American Society of Naval

Engineers (ASNE) was born in the age of wooden-hulled Navy ships which were propelled by reciprocat- ing steam engines with coal-fired boilers and armed with muzzle- loaded guns.

The magnitude of the advances in naval engineering technology since that time can be measured by to- day's use of guided missile systems, nuclear propulsion, gas turbine en- gines and modern electronics.

However, even with all the nu- merous technological breakthroughs and advances in naval technology, the society still has its same basic purpose—to advance the knowledge and practice of naval engineering; to enhance the professionalism and well-being of its members; and to promote naval engineering as a ca- reer field.

The society was founded in 1888 by a small group of 20 officers of the

Engineering Corps of the U.S. Navy.

They met in the Bureau of Steam

Engineering in Washington, D.C., with the intention of developing a means of dissemination of technical information to the Navy relative to the naval engineering field. One of the officers present, Assistant Engi- neer A.M. Mattice, proposed that an organization known as the American

Society of Naval Engineers be formed for purposes of promoting naval engineering professionalism and prestige. Included in the discus- sion was the possibility of pre- senting and preserving papers per- taining to debatable and developing topics in naval engineering. Under the guidance of Rear Adm. G. W.

Baird, USN, who would be the so- ciety's second president, the officers accepted this proposal and decided to publish a quarterly journal to car- ry out the major objectives and ideas of the society. ASNE's first president was Chief Engineer Na- than P. Towne, USN.

Since its first three months when its membership stood at 102, the society has grown to represent more than 8,500 military and civilian na- val engineers. Its journal is read in over 50 countries.

The annual ASNE Day, an event which has become a tradition, is a major technical, social and business function of the society. ASNE Day, which consists of business meetings, a reception and luncheon, technical sessions, a banquet and a large num- ber of industry and government ex- hibits, can trace its roots back to 1889. During the period of 1889- 1898, annual meetings of the society

April, 1988 included the presentation of techni- cal papers. However, the practice was discontinued until 1962, when the term "ASNE Day" was insti- tuted.

ASNE Day '62 consisted of a lun- cheon attended by about 500 mem- bers and guests, an afternoon tech- nical session featuring five papers and a banquet attended by about 1,500 participants. The first exhib- its were introduced at ASNE Day '67.

For further information about the

American Society of Naval Engi- neers, contact: ASNE, 1452 Duke

Street, Alexandria, Va. 23214; tele- phone: (703) 836-6727.

ASNE DAY 1988

Thursday A.M., MAY 5

Palladian Room—Session 1A

Moderator: Peter P. Palermo

Robert Williams, Assistant 0845: NAVY SHIP DESIGN—EVOLUTION

OR REVOLUTION? by Capt. Barry

F. Tibbitts, USN, Robert G. Keane

Jr. and Robert J. Riggins 0930: NTDS—A PAGE IN NAVAL HISTORY by Capt. Erick N. Swenson, USNR (Ret.) and Capt. Joseph S.

Stoutenburgh, USNR (Ret.) and

Capt. Edmund B. Mahinske, USN (Ret.). (continued)

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