The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral (SC) Joel D. Parks, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Supply Center, San Diego, California, from August 1958 to June 1962. A pioneer and recognized expert in the field of mechanized supply management and in the application of automatic data processing systems in naval supply operations, Rear Admiral Parks has brought this concept into use in the Shop Stores System in this area, and has provided advice in its implementation in other areas, resulting in greatly improved inventory management practices at local levels, reduced inventory investment, and sustained supply effectiveness. He skillfully directed the consolidation of major supply operations under the Supply Center, including assumption of responsibility for all technical materials, thereby improving Fleet support in technical materials, better coordinating the total support to Fleet units in the area, and achieving monetary economies in the consolidation of inventories.