The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Commander George W. Hoover, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving at the Office of Naval Research, Washington, D.C. from 20 June 1952 to 31 December 1958. As Manager, Weapons Systems, Air Branch, Commander Hoover initiated and sponsored research on projects which have resulted in outstanding contributions to the Navy’s operational capabilities, scientific advancement and national prestige. Commander Hoover’s further realization of the utility of this concept to all man-machine systems has resulted in application of the same techniques to the control problems of submarines and surface ships. Through his driving spirit, organizing ability, imagination and foresight, Commander Hoover was personally responsible for the initiation of Project Orbiter, a joint Army-Navy effort to place an earth satellite in orbit, which later led to the development of Explorer I, the United States first successful satellite.