Rear Admiral Paul Albert Smith,
who retired from the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1954, died 
in
the Washington, D.C. area on June 4, 1978.
Admiral Smith joined the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a junior
engineer in 1924, after obtaining his degree in surveying and
geodesy from the University of Michigan. His last assignment
prior to retirement from the Coast and Geodetic Survey was a
special assignment to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Research and Development.
Admiral Smith will be remembered in various capacities in his
service with the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Most know him as
Chief of the Aeronautical Chart Branch. Other assignments were
hydrographic surveying in interior and along the coasts of the
United States, Alaska, and the Philippine Islands. He served
as U.S. representative of the Council of ICAO with the temporary
rank of Rear Admiral and personal rank of Minister, heading
the U.S. Mission to ICAO.
Among his outstanding accomplishments before retiring from the
Coast and Geodetic Survey were the introduction of plastic sheets
in cartography; development with Air Force of plans and specifications
for world aeronautical charts; cooperation with industry in
the development of fluorescent paper for aeronautical charts;
research on submarine canyons of the Atlantic coast of North
America and the Congo; and the discovery of the topographic
character of submarine relief of the Pacific coastal areas,
and engineering and navigation values of the application of
topographic contouring to hydrographic surveys and nautical
charts. He also made contributions in the development of principles
of propagation of sound in sea water and practical application
of these principles to hydrographic surveying. He served on
numerous advisory committees for the Departments of Commerce
and Air Force.
In 1964, Admiral Smith received an Air Force decoration for
exceptional civilian service. As chairman of the Geophysical
Panel of the Scientific Advisory Board to the Secretary of the
Air Force and to the Chief of Staff, USAF, Admiral Smith's leadership
in panel activities and his personal contributions greatly enhanced
the application of scientific advances to the Air Force's geophysics
program.
He also received the Department of Commerce's Exceptional Service
Award. As a consultant, he worked with several National Academy
of Sciences committees over many years.
NOAA CORPS BULLETIN, 12/1/1978
