Department of the Army Nomination of Walter B. LaBerge To Be Under Secretary.

The President today announced that he will nominate Walter B. LaBerge, of Fairfax County, Va., to be Under Secretary of the Army. LaBerge is Assistant Secretary General for Defense Support at NATO.

He was born March 29, 1924, in Chicago, Ill. He received a B.S. in naval science (1944), a B.S. in physics (1947), and a Ph.D. in physics (1950) from the University of Notre Dame.

During World War II, LaBerge served as executive officer and then commander of the U.S. Navy Minesweeper YMS 165. He was program engineer (1950-1955) and then program manager (1955-1957) for the Sidewinder missile at the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, Calif.

From 1957 to 1963, LaBerge was the director of engineering at Western Development Laboratories, Philco-Ford Corp., in Palo Alto. From 1963 to 1965, he was director of the Philco-Ford Corporation's Houston operation, and in 1965 he became vice president for Philco-Ford's research and development corporate staff. From 1966 to 1971, he was first a division vice president, then vice president for the electronics group, at Western Development Laboratories.

In 1971 he became deputy technical director of the Naval Weapons Center in California, and in 1973 he became technical director. From 1973 to 1976, LaBerge was Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Research and Development). Since 1976 he has been Assistant Secretary General for Defense Support at NATO.

LaBerge has served as a member of the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and the Chief of Naval Operations Industry Advisory Committee. He has received the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award (1972) and the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award (1975).