General Atomics (GA) is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, specializing in research and technology development. This includes physics research in support of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion energy. The company also provides research and manufacturing services for remotely operated surveillance aircraft, including the Predator drones, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless, and laser technologies. History General Atomics was founded on July 18, 1955, in San Diego, California, by Frederic de Hoffmann with assistance from notable physicists Edward Teller and Freeman Dyson. Originally the company was part of the General Atomic division of General Dynamics "for harnessing the power of nuclear technologies for the benefit of mankind". GA's first offices were in the General Dynamics facility on Hancock Street in San Diego. GA also used a schoolhouse on San Diego's Barnard Street as its temporary headquarters, which it would later "adopt" as part of its Education Outreach program. In 1956, San Diego voters approved the transfer of land to GA for permanent facilities in Torrey Pines, and the John Jay Hopkins Laboratory for Pure and Applied Science was formally dedicated there on June 25, 1959. The Torrey Pines facility continues to serve as the company's headquarters today. General Atomics's initial projects were the TRIGA nuclear research reactor, which was designed so that it was guaranteed to be safe by the laws of nature, and Project Orion. GA helped develop and run the San Diego Supercomputer Center. A brief history of the company: 1967: Sold to Gulf Oil and renamed "Gulf General Atomic". 1973: Renamed "General Atomic Company" when Royal Dutch Shell Group's Scallop Nuclear Inc. became a 50–50 partner. 1979: Harold Agnew appointed president and CEO. 1982: Renamed "GA Technologies Inc" when Gulf bought out its partner. 1984: Taken ownership of by Chevron following its merger with Gulf Oil. 1986: Sold to a company owned by Neal Blue and Linden Blue. Assumed its current name. 1987: Joined by former US Navy Rear Admiral, Thomas J. Cassidy Jr. 1993: Awarded the "Information Services" portion of the NSF contract for InterNIC functions and publishes Internet Scout Report. 1993: Spawned General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), with Neal Blue as Chairman-CEO and Thomas J. Cassidy as president. 1994: GA-ASI spun off as an affiliate. 1995: Ended role as provider of InterNIC Information Services. On March 15, 2010, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Cassidy stepped down as President of