Norman Friedman is a physiscist who has worked for the defense industry and for the US Navy as an anylist. He has published many books on naval history and more specifically on the inner workings and development of different types of ships. His books are considered to be the best on the subject, period.
http://www.afcea.org/events/west/10/...nNormanbio.pdf
http://www.allbookstores.com/author/..._Friedman.html