The Navy has always been a model of innovation, but this has not always been easy. Faced with a problem of a power source (wind) that was inconsistent, naval leaders and scientists set out to see if they could figure out a better way. They did, and the first Naval steamship was produced in 1815. Today, the Navy is faced with another problem: how to operate independently without dependence on external sources of fuel. Understanding the process of how the Navy solved its early technological hurdles can help solve today's challenges.