Designated naval aviator in 1932, Andrew Jackson served with Scouting Squadron Three on board the USS Lexington (CV-2) and Patrol Squadron One at Pearl Harbor during the 1930s. In 1939 he served in the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and in 1941 became project officer in design of the Grumman F6F Hellcat at the Bureau of Aeronautics. During World War II he was with Fighter Squadron Eight, participating in operations at Palau, Woleai, Hollandia, and Truk; then, as operations officer with Carrier Division Six, he was involved in strikes against Saigon, Hong Kong, Formosa, Kyushu, Shikoku, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He subsequently served at the Bureau of Aeronautics; as CO of the USS Timbalier (AVP-54); with the Atomic Energy Commission; with Task Force 77 during operations in the Korean area; and as CO of the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). In 1960 he became Commander Middle East Force, then in 1964 Assistant CNO (Plans and Policy). In 1967 he became Naval Representative and Vice Chairman (later Chairman) of the U.S. Delegation to the UN Military Staff Committee, retiring in 1969.
In this excerpt, Vice Admiral Jackson describes his role during his three-year tour as Chief of Military Development at the nascent Atomic Energy Commission during the post–World War II period.
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