Evening star., 1939-09-13
Admiral Robinson
Heads Navy Bureau
OF Engineering
Change One Of Several
In Move to Reach
Authorized Strength

In one of several important
changes foreshadowing an intensi-
fled program to bring the Navy up
to its maximum authorized strength
Rear Admiral S. M. Robinson was
made chief of the Navy Bureau OF
Engineering today.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Edi-
son, who announced the Robinson
order and several other changes
yesterday, said that in the near
future Admiral Robinson will be
given additional orders to assist him
in co-ordinating shipbuilding. This
in effect, gives Admiral Robinson
direction over both the Bureau OF
Engineering and the Bureau of Con-
struction and Repairs, and in naval
circles it was considered step
toward consolidating all shipbuild-
ing work under one bureau.
Admiral Robinson, who has had
several tours of duty here, recently
has been inspector of Naval mate
rials, General Electric Co., Schenec-
tady, N. Y. He has also been senior
member of the Compensation Board
of the Navy Department since April
1898. He succeeds to the post OF
chief of the Bureau of Engineering
which has been vacant since Rear
Admiral Harold G. Bowen COM
pleted 4-year tour of duty in that
capacity last May.
Du Bose Goes to Model Basin.
Mr.. Edison also announced that on
September 16 Rear Admiral William
G. Du Bose will be detached from
duty as chief of Bureau of Con-
struction and Repair and ordered to
duty as director of the David w.
Taylor Model Basin. He will be
authorized to delay until November
l in reporting for his new duties.
He had completed two years of the
usual 4-year tour of duty as chief of
the bureau.
Capt. Alexander H. Van Keuren
now industrial manager of the
Philadelphia Navy Yard, will sue
ceed Admiral Du Bose as chief of
the Construction Bureau.
Other changes we're:
Capt. Lewis B. Mcbride will be
relieved about November l of his
duties as director of the David w
Tavlor Model BASIN, which is 10
cateo at Carderock, Md, and will
continue his duties as member of
the Compensation Board. He will
also have additional duties at the
Washington Navy Yard in connec-
ton with construction and with the
experimental model basin at that
place
Capt. Charles W. Fisher, j., will
be ordered to duty as director of the
Shore Establishments Division in the
Office of the Assistant Secretary of
the Navy. Since the detachment
of Rear Admiral J. r. Defrees. the
duties of this post have have been
carried on by Rear Admiral A. T.
Church.
Church to Go to Annapolis.
Admiral Church has been ordered
as director of the Naval Engineering
experimental Station, Annapolis,
Md, a post that has been tenn
porarily filled by Comdr. John O.
Huse.
Rdmiral Robinson, a native of
Texas, was appointed to the Naval
Academy from that State in 1899.
He has had variety of service in
the Navy, both ashore and afoat.
From 1914 to 191999 he was on duty
In the Bureau of Engineering, and
again from 1921 to 1926, serving the
major part of the time as officer in
charge of the Design Division. He
has been on duty in Schnectady
since 1885
Capt. Van Keuren was born in
Howell Mich, in 1881. and was ap-
pointed to the Naval Academy in
1899. His varied career in the Navy
includes duty in the Design Division.
Bureau of Construction, here from
1916 to 1920. He returned to the
bureau in 1927, and served as head
of the Design Division until 1896.
Capt. Fisher, a native of New
York, was appointed to the Naval
Academy in 1904. He served on the
Compensation Board in 1921 and
1922. and in 1885 assumed duty in
the Shore Establishment Division.