CHAPTER II The Weapons Manufacturing Organization In accomplishing its primary missions of adding to the store of knowledge on the use of atomic energy for weapons and of delivering finished atomic weapons to stockpile, SFO operates in five broad areas: Government administration, research and development, testing, production, and storage. Two broad categories of components make up the final products: The explosive system (fissile and conventional) and the inert system (fuzing and case), Prior to July 1953, two general types of weapons were manufactured for stockpile; Implosion and gun, with the thermonuclear type still in the pre-stockpile-production stage. The technical and operating functions are performed almost wholly by contractors, The extensive organization of key, operating contractors is in turn supported by thousandsof contracts with governmental, not-for-profit, and private enterprise agencies which furnish scientific, technical, production, and supply services. Government support and super- vision are provided by a direct AEC organization in headquarters and field offices. The initial three years of AEC stewardship were described as a period of building a staff, organization, and physical structure to match the developing programs, In July 1947, Los Alamos was the weapons organization. During the next three years the structure at Los Alamos was revised and strengthened, while simultaneously specialized capabilities were established elsewhere. In July 1950, it was projected that the basic structure was essentially complete, that only minor future expansion would be required. Reflecting new scientific discoveries and the changes in program requirements which developed after that date, the three years from 1950 to 1953 were in fact marked by major changes and expan- sions in the Santa Fe Operations organization—headquarters, field, and contractor—and in the physical plant. This section presents an oversimplified picture of the development of philosophy, total organization, and plan of operations during six years from mid-1947 to mid-1953. It presents.the key details of office and contractor location, physical plant, missions, and personnel. In order to show the full scope, a summary of the related Armed Forces organization is also presented. 4. FACTORS ENTERING INTO FIELD MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION ALOG The mission assignment of SFO has remained unchanged, including research, develop- ment, testing, production, and custody of nuclear weapons. The scope has been materially expanded, for instance requiring organizational variations to cover implosion-type, gun- type, and thermonuclear weapons. A development in June 1952, was activation of Livermore Branch, University of.California Radiation Laboratory, as a weapons development installation reporting to a new Operations Office at San Francisco. The new laboratory uses SFO facilities, particularly those at LASL, Sandia, Inyokern, and the two proving grounds, and yy v7 20 Spas 25