Date of Award

1-1982

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Melvin Lester

Abstract

This culminating project by Captain Isaac Sims Jr., titled "Government Contracting and Technological Change," examines the evolution of U.S. government policies and practices concerning research and development (R&D) from the pre-World War II era through the immediate postwar years. The study highlights the significant transformation in the federal approach to technological innovation, particularly in defense and medical research, driven by the exigencies of wartime and the Cold War. Central to this transformation was the emergence of a robust contractual relationship between government agencies and private institutions, including universities and industrial firms.

The document outlines how World War II catalyzed the integration of scientific expertise into national defense policy and established the foundations for the postwar R&D infrastructure. It explores legislative and administrative milestones such as the National Defense Expediting Act, the formation of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, the development of the Atomic Energy Commission, and the creation of the National Science Foundation. Sims emphasizes the federal government’s shift from direct research execution to funding external organizations via grants and contracts, enabling rapid innovation in fields like nuclear energy, aviation, and computing.

Furthermore, the paper discusses the systemic impact of these policies on American society, including the creation of large-scale R&D programs, increased federal investment in scientific inquiry, and the institutionalization of science as a tool of public policy. The summary concludes that by 1947, a lasting framework for federally supported R&D had been firmly established, combining public oversight with private execution. This hybrid model has continued to shape the trajectory of American technological advancement.

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