neral Leslie Groves in charge of the project (code named the "Manhattan Project"), Oppenheimer suggested to Groves that work on the project take place in a single laboratory. He knew that having the dispersion of scientists hampered the speed of work. The workers, including all of the theoretical physicists as well as the chemical engineers, metallurgists, and all of the other support personnel should be grouped together in one facility. Groves accepted the proposal, and on Oppenheimer's advice chose the site of a former boy's boarding school in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The remoteness of the site increased the security of the project. Groves named Oppenheimer the facility's scientific director. None of this work was public knowledge until the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Oppenheimer was one of a panel of four scientists who, in May 1945, discussed the case for the military use of the atomic bomb on Japan. The other men on the panel were A. H. Compton, Enrico Fermi, and E. O. Lawrence. Their opinion, which Oppenheimer supported, was that a demonstration of the bomb on a deserted island would not be effective, and that the only way to end the war was to use it on a real military target in a populated area. Oppenheimer later commented in 1962, "I believe there was very little deliberation....The actual military plans at the time... were clearly much more terrible in every way and for everyone concerned than the use of the bomb. Nevertheless, my own feeling is that if the bombs were to be used there could have been more effective warning and much less wanton killing..." The implications of the decision to drop the bomb will continue to be studied by historians for years to come. In 1946, the Atomic Energy Commission was established under the McMahon Act, which provided for civilian control of atomic energy. The commission appointed Oppenheimer as chairman of the General Advisory Committee, and he served in this capa...
