Operation Everest was conceived by Lieut. Comdr. Charles S. Houston, a seasoned mountaineer who had climbed to 26,000 feet in the Himalayas and who had taken part in the Navy altitude training program for several years. He hoped to keep a small group of men continuously within a low pressure chamber, decreasing the pressure gradually to simulate an actual mountain ascent giving the subjects time to make the necessary physiological changes. In this booklet, the organization of the project and the histories of the personnel involved are outlined.