History of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Book excerpt: Before World War II the Army Industrial College, with its emphasis on the economic aspects of national security was a unique military college with no counterpart in other nations. World War II brought new recognition of the important role of the Industrial College. When the College was reconstituted as a joint-service institution after World War II, graduate level instruction was provided in economic mobilization, but emphasis soon shifted to the management of defense resources. The Industrial College of the Armed Forces was designated by its charter as an institution at the highest educational level in the Defense Establishment. The Alumni Association of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces undertook the preparation of this history to meet a long-recognized need for a comprehensive account of the development of the College. This project is especially timely in view of the 60-year anniversary of the Industrial College on 25 February 1984. The present study emphasizes changes in mission and the evolution of the instructional program. Extensive use was made of the annual reports submitted by the Commandants of the Industrial College to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.