The Admiral H. G. Rickover Foundation was formed in 1982 when Admiral Rickover retired after having served his country for 64 years in the U.S. Navy. The Foundation’s primary concern is to continue Admiral Rickover1s years of dedication to excellence in education. Former Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter serve as honorary members or the Board of Directors. Admiral Bobby Inman is Vice Chairman. The office of the Foundation is located at 7710 Old Springhouse Road, McLean, VA 22101.
The Rickover Foundation sponsors the Rickover Science Institute (RSI) which is held at the Xerox International Training Center in Leesburg, VA. RSI is a six-week residential summer science program designed to nurture the intellectual and practical skills of America’s teachers or the gifted and talented. The program, which is taught between the students’ junior and senior years of high school, combines intensive classroom lectures and tutoring with off-campus internships in scientific research. It is the only program of its kind in this country which is designed to equip students with theoretical background as well as practical experience in scientific research.
As an innovative model program, the Rickover Science Institute is meeting the expectations of Admiral Rickover when he said, “The impact of the Rickover Science Institute is expected to go beyond the student and faculty participants. They will return to their home schools as role models for this type of program which I hope can be emulated.” Funds for the Institute are donated by private individuals and corporations as well as by the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. All contributions are tax deductible.
The Foundation also sponsors international student exchanges in which students from other countries attend the Rickover Science Institute and American students attend sessions in math and science, go to research facilities, and visit cultural sites in the host country. Funds for this project are provided by the United States Information Agency.
