The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in the United States in 1946 to oversee the development and regulation of atomic energy. Its primary mission was to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy while ensuring safety and security. The AEC played a crucial role in the early years of nuclear power and research. In 1974, the AEC was dissolved and its responsibilities were divided between two new agencies: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which focuses on regulating commercial nuclear power plants, and the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), which later became part of the Department of Energy (DOE).