United States Atomic Energy Commission

n. USAEC, former United States government atomic research agency that was in charged and controlled the research of atomic energy and its peace time uses in the United States

Almost a year after World War II ended, the United States Congress established the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S. Truman signed the Atomic Energy Act (also known as the McMahon Act) on August 1, 1946, transferring the control of atomic energy from military to civilian hands. This action reflected America's postwar optimism, with Congress declaring that atomic energy should be employed not only in the form of nuclear weapons for the nation's defense, but also to promote world peace, improve the public welfare and strengthen free competition in private enterprise. The signing was the culmination of long months of intensive debate among politicians, military planners and atomic scientists over the fate of this new energy source. President Truman appointed David Lilienthal as the first Chairman of the AEC.
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