Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 26. Juni 1996 / Time Line June 26, 1996
Version 3.006/26/1996
Defense Nuclear Agency Changes Name
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today that the Defense
Nuclear Agency (DNA) is being renamed the Defense Special Weapons
Agency (DSWA). This change is made to more accurately reflect the
Agency's mission under its 1995 charter.
DNA, whose lineage derives from the Manhattan Project that produced
the first atomic bomb, carried out nuclear support responsibilities
throughout the Cold War. Over the years, the name of the
organization evolved from the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project
in 1947, to the Defense Atomic Support Agency in 1959, to DNA in
1971. Thus the "special weapons" designation is a return to the
Agency's roots, but the mission now encompasses both nuclear and
advanced conventional weapons support programs.
The Agency's responsibilitities were increased as a result of two
congressionally mandated studies of its roles and functions.
Missions include:
-- Maintaining a center for nuclear technical expertise within
DoD.
-- Conducting nuclear weapons stockpile support and serving as the
lead DoD agency for national nuclear stockpile stewardship
programs.
-- Performing nuclear and advanced weapons effects research and
operational support.
-- Carrying out research and development to support U.S. government
implementation, compliance and verification of arms control
treaties and agreements.
-- Researching and developing capabilities for military responses
to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
--Supporting military warfighters in analyzing plans and response
options for both nuclear and advanced conventional weapons.
-- Carrying out DoD's Cooperative Threat Reduction program
projects.
The charter revision prompted an Agency reorganization in December
1995, and the name change completes the adjustment to the expanded
charter.
06/26/1996
Veronica Guerin (5 July 1958 – 26 June 1996) was an Irish crime reporter
who was murdered on 26 June 1996 by drug lords, an event which helped
establish the Criminal Assets Bureau.
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