Richmond, VA: The William Byrd Press, 1969. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. 114, [1] pages. Illustrations/Inscribed on the fep to Ms. Virginia M. Rosser With All our Best Wishes, Major General Oliver W. Lewis Major General USAF (Ret). Oliver W. Lewis, was vice president of the American Defense Preparedness Association, and as such interacted with the American Ordnance Association. Brigadier General Benedict Crowell, who had served as the Assistant Secretary of War during WWI, realized that there needed to be an approach for involving industry with national defense. In October 1919, he convened a meeting of military officers and leading manufacturers at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland to discuss this deficiency and explore what might be done. The result of this gathering was the establishment of the Army Ordnance Association. The goal of this Association was industrial preparedness, both in peacetime and in times of war. Crowell served as the Chairman of the AOA from 1920 to 1945. In 1948, the Army Ordnance Association changed its name to the American Ordnance Association, reflecting the changes brought about by the establishment of the Department of Defense. At that time, the Association broadened its technical coverage and activities to include manufacturing, emerging technologies, and supply chains for sustainment. On January 1, 1965, the Armed Forces Chemical Association and the American Ordnance Association merged and continued to address their foundational mission under the banner of the American Ordnance Association. In 1973, the name of the Association was changed to American Defense Preparedness Association – the ADPA. More