Weapons Systems Evaluation Group
Encyclopedia
The Weapons Systems Evaluation Group (abbreviated WSEG) was formed in 1949 to carry out Operational Research work for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
of the United States Army
and the United States Secretary of Defense
. The group oversaw the appraisal of weapons used during the Korean War
. The group collaborated with Israel in evaluating the effectiveness of Soviet weapons during the Cold War
.
, who served a year and a half before returning to MIT in the summer of 1950. From 1957 until 1960 John H. Sides
was director of WSEG.
Hugh Everett III worked at the WSEG from 1956 until 1964. Much of his works remains classified. During his time with the WSEG Everett worked on various studies of the Minuteman missile project, which was then starting. Together with George E. Pugh he wrote an influential study The Distribution and Effects of Fallout in Large Nuclear Weapon Campaigns.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and the United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
. The group oversaw the appraisal of weapons used during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The group collaborated with Israel in evaluating the effectiveness of Soviet weapons during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
History
The first Research Director was Philip M. MorsePhilip M. Morse
Philip McCord Morse , was an American physicist, administrator and pioneer of operations research in World War II. He is considered to be the father of operations research in the U.S.- Biography :Morse graduated from the Case School of Applied Science in 1926 with a B.S. in physics. He earned his...
, who served a year and a half before returning to MIT in the summer of 1950. From 1957 until 1960 John H. Sides
John H. Sides
Admiral John Harold Sides was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1960 to 1963 and was known as the father of the Navy's guided-missile program....
was director of WSEG.
Hugh Everett III worked at the WSEG from 1956 until 1964. Much of his works remains classified. During his time with the WSEG Everett worked on various studies of the Minuteman missile project, which was then starting. Together with George E. Pugh he wrote an influential study The Distribution and Effects of Fallout in Large Nuclear Weapon Campaigns.