David E. Lilienthal

David E. Lilienthal
Lilienthal before a Senate committee, 1937
Chair of the United States Atomic Energy Commission
In office
October 1946 – February 15, 1950
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byGordon Dean
Chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority
In office
September 16, 1941 – October 1946
President
Preceded byHarcourt Morgan
Succeeded byGordon R. Clapp
Vice Chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority
In office
January 27, 1939 – September 16, 1941
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byHarcourt Morgan
Succeeded byHarcourt Morgan
Member of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors
In office
June 23, 1933 – October 1946
Appointed byFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byGordon R. Clapp
Member of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
In office
March 25, 1931 – June 23, 1933
Appointed byPhilip La Follette
Preceded byPhilip Porter
Succeeded byFred S. Hunt
Personal details
BornDavid Eli Lilienthal
(1899-07-08)July 8, 1899
DiedJanuary 15, 1981(1981-01-15) (aged 81)
Spouse
Helen Marian Lamb
(m. 1923)
Education
AwardsPublic Welfare Medal (1951)
Signature

David Eli Lilienthal (July 8, 1899 – January 15, 1981) was an American attorney and public administrator, best known for his presidential appointment to head Tennessee Valley Authority and later the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). He had practiced public utility law and led the Wisconsin Public Utilities Commission.

Later he was co-author with Dean Acheson (later Secretary of State) of the 1946 Report on the International Control of Atomic Energy, which outlined possible methods for international control of nuclear weapons. As chair of the AEC, he was one of the pioneers in civilian management of nuclear power resources.