1423 Powhatan St., Suite 1
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone (703) 836-6727
Fax (703) 836-7491
Email: asnehq@navalengineers.org

 

ASNE is the leading professional engineering society for engineers, scientists and allied professionals who conceive, design, develop, test, construct, outfit, operate and maintain complex naval and maritime ships, submarines and aircraft and their associated systems and subsystems.  ASNE also serves the educators who train the professionals, researchers who develop related technology, and students who are preparing for the profession.  Society activities provide support for the U.S. Navy; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Marine Corps; U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Army.

ASNE is the seventh oldest technical society in the United States.  It was founded in 1888 by a group of naval engineering pioneers, most of them officers of the U.S. Navy's Engineering Corps, who sought a unified approach to their profession in order to make the most of new advances in technology. The purposes of ASNE are:           

  • to advance the knowledge and practice of naval engineering in public and private applications and operations,
  • to enhance the professionalism and well-being of members, and
  • to promote naval engineering as a career field.

For 125 years, the Society’s objectives have been strengthened and preserved to meet the changing needs of a time-honored profession. Today ASNE conducts a variety of technical meetings and symposia, publishes the highly regarded Naval Engineers Journal and a number of other technical proceedings and publications, and fosters professional development and technical information exchange through technical committees, local section activities and cooperative efforts with government organizations and other professional societies.

The Society's annual meeting, ASNE Day, is typically held in February of each year in the Washington, DC, area. The meeting features major addresses by high level industry and government leaders and panel discussions by leading members of the profession.  It also includes presentation and discussion of technical papers on a variety of timely naval engineering topics, presentation of the Society's prestigious annual awards and a large exposition with government and industry exhibits covering the full spectrum of naval engineering technology. ASNE Day is highlighted by the Society’s annual Honors Gala, attended by hundreds of executives and senior managers from both government and industry.

Our website is designed to not only serve our members, but also to support scholars, students and others interested in the varied field of naval engineering.  We welcome your suggestions on ways we can improve your experience. 

Charles H. Brown, Jr.

Award: Harold E. Saunders Award
Year: 2000
Recipient:
Mr. Charles H. Brown, Jr.
Reason:
For his significant contribution to naval engineering as set forth in the following:

Mr. Charles H. Brown, Jr. spearheaded the development of innovative electrical equipment and systems for the Navy's nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. His vision for well designed, operator-efficient electrical and instrumentation systems led to reducing the cost and manning requirements for propulsion plant electrical systems long before it became a budgetary necessity in Government contracting. He tirelessly championed the need of the Fleet to have sailor-friendly methodologies in use for maintaining electrical equipment.

Mr. Brown's specific accomplishments include the following: Simplified the acquisition process by fragmenting the development plan into smaller, bite-size tasks, reducing the risk of cost overruns for the vendor and allowing the Navy to better control overall project development costs. Championed electrical equipment maintainability by ensuring supporting technical documentation and test equipment were sailor-tested and readily available to support troubleshooting and that appropriate repair parts were carried onboard nuclear-powered ships to allow the Fleet to quickly restore their electrical systems in full operation. Initiated manning reductions by imaginatively harnessing new systems technologies to provide for improved electric plant control with fewer required people. Pioneered efforts to lead the Navy toward development of revolutionary electric drive systems for naval ship propulsion. Insisted on Fleet involvement early in the design process, where the practical advice of the sea-going Sailor could have a profound impact, and closely involved the Fleet in all decisions relating to operational limitations on existing equipment.

Mr. Brown is the quintessential professional engineer. His skill and initiative in guiding Navy electrical systems into the future are a superb example for all to come. His leadership has provided highly reliable electrical equipment and systems for the Nation's aircraft carriers and submarines. The ships affected by Mr. Brown's dynamic leadership will serve well into the 21st century. It is to his credit that the systems he conceived will effectively meet the needs of the United States throughout their intended life. For a lifetime of superb engineering achievement, Charles H. Brown, Jr. is most deserving of the Harold E. Saunders Award for 2000.