THE GOLD MEDAL AWARD FOR 1993

Abstract

William B. Morgan has been a pioneer in the development of state‐of‐the‐art propulsion technology from his initial employment forty‐two years ago as a hydraulics engineer at David Taylor Model Basin, now the Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, to his present position as Head, Hydromechanics Directorate.Dr. Morgan has made successive and outstanding technical contributions to the design and development of advanced marine propellers of various types. His contributions came just as naval surface ship and submarine propellers underwent a great transformation as the result of increasing demands for efficiency, noise and vibration abatement, and when new propeller types evolved for use on high speed vehicles. Advanced propulsors innovated and perfected through Dr. Morgan's leadership and personal efforts have become the standard for U.S. nuclear submarines including the latest class Seawolf.Many of the design advances that he developed for naval applications have been successfully applied to commercial ships worldwide. This contribution to the maritime community has received both national and international recognition.Dr. Morgan has also been responsible for the testing facilities that comprise the David Taylor Model Basin and are renowned world wide for unmatched size, scope, and scientific capabilities. Through his personal commitment and leadership, he has successfully introduced the Navy's newest hydrodynamic test facility, the Large Cavitation Channel at Memphis, Tenn. This facility provides the U.S. Navy with unparalleled scientific capabilities to analyze hull forms, appendages and propulsors in ways previously unavailable and will most certainly stimulate important future advances in naval designs.For his outstanding contribution to the United States Navy and to the maritime community as a leader of ship hydromechanics research and development, Dr. Morgan is eminently deserving to receive the American Society of Naval Engineers Gold Medal Award for 1993.