The Naval Research Laboratory came into existence from an idea that originated from Thomas Edison.
In a May 1915 editorial piece in the New York Times Magazine, Edison wrote; "The Government should maintain a great research laboratory... In this could be developed...all the technique of military and naval progression without any vast expense."
This statement addressed concerns about World War I in the United States.

Edison then agreed to serve as the head of the Naval Consulting Board that consisted of civilians who had achieved expertise.
The focus of the Naval Consulting Board was as advisor to the U.S. Navy pertaining to science and technology.
The board brought forward a plan to create a modern facility for the Navy.
In 1916 Congress allocated $1.5 million for implementation.
However, construction was delayed until 1920 because of the war and internal disagreements within the board.

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, the first modern research institution created within the United States Navy, began operations at 1100 on 2 July 1923.
The Laboratory's two original divisions – Radio and Sound – performed research in the fields of high-frequency radio and underwater sound propagation.
They produced communications equipment, direction-finding devices, sonar sets, and the first practical radar equipment built in the United States.
They performed basic research, participating in the discovery and early exploration of the ionosphere.
The NRL gradually worked towards its goal of becoming a broadly based research facility.
By the beginning of World War II, five new divisions had been added: Physical Optics, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Mechanics and Electricity, and Internal Communications.
The Naval Research Laboratory came into existence from an idea that originated from Thomas Edison. In a May 1915 editorial piece in the New York Times Magazine, Edison wrote; "The Government should maintain a great research laboratory... In this could be developed...all the technique of military and naval progression without any vast expense." This statement addressed concerns about World War I in the United States.
Edison then agreed to serve as the head of the Naval Consulting Board that consisted of civilians who had achieved expertise. The focus of the Naval Consulting Board was as advisor to the U.S. Navy pertaining to science and technology. The board brought forward a plan to create a modern facility for the Navy. In 1916 Congress allocated $1.5 million for implementation. However, construction was delayed until 1920 because of the war and internal disagreements within the board.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, the first modern research institution created within the United States Navy, began operations at 1100 on 2 July 1923. The Laboratory's two original divisions – Radio and Sound – performed research in the fields of high-frequency radio and underwater sound propagation. They produced communications equipment, direction-finding devices, sonar sets, and the first practical radar equipment built in the United States. They performed basic research, participating in the discovery and early exploration of the ionosphere. The NRL gradually worked towards its goal of becoming a broadly based research facility. By the beginning of World War II, five new divisions had been added: Physical Optics, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Mechanics and Electricity, and Internal Communications.
United States Naval Research Laboratory