In 1950, the Cold War was raging between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. Just one year earlier, the U.S. broke the Soviet blockade of Berlin while Mao Zedong declared the establishment of the Communist People’s Republic of China. Spies on both sides were racing to get highly sensitive information—especially concerning nuclear weapons—to help ensure the advantage of their governments.
In the aftermath of World War II, the U.S. had already conducted several atomic bomb tests but needed a permanent place for testing. Meanwhile, the Soviets had exploded their first atomic weapon in 1949 and were poised to continue more.
During that very tense 1950, President Harry Truman authorized the establishment of a portion of the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range as the Nevada Proving Grounds—later the Nevada Test Site and even later, the Nevada National Security Site—a permanent home for testing America’s nuclear weapon. Today, laboratories, facilities and offices in four other states across the country are managed as part of the Nevada National Security Sites.
Throughout the past 75 years, the NNSS, as part of the nuclear security enterprise managed today by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), has played a pivotal role in ensuring the nation’s security.
During this diamond anniversary year, the remarkable scientific, technological and engineering successes—together with the generations of dedicated employees who have made all this possible—will be recognized and celebrated.
As national security missions change and grow, NNSS will remain a sought-after user site, delivering solutions for our nation’s most urgent large-scale, high-hazard security challenges, and will continue to deliver excellence and innovation.
Follow along this year on social media at #NNSS75Years.