The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Lewis M. Atkins (NSN: 0-5494), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant to the Director of the Shore Establishments Division of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy from October 1939 to January 1944. During this period Captain Atkins organized and was one of the principal moving forces in the nation wide Shipbuilding Zone Stabilization Agreements. He displayed outstanding executive ability in matters of development and maintenance of administrative procedures relating to the shipbuilding and ship repair industry. His work in the interpretation and application of those agreements and in connection with the reimbursement policies of all the procurement agencies was of the highest type, reflecting wide knowledge, great skill, and an energetic devotion to duty which provided an inspiring leadership to those under his direction. As one of the originators of the Navy’s program to facilitate the production in plants of private contractors by means of a labor relations field service, Captain Atkins’ cool, alert and steadfast efforts brought about the achievement of the objective of virtually uninterrupted production throughout the nation, and contributed substantially to the war effort. His outstanding service and performance of duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.