In a communication to Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation, General Leslie Groves gave instruction to discontinue work on the Y-12 Alpha 1 4-J unit, and, authorized Westinghouse Electric Corporation to hire additional draftsmen to accelerate the Y-12 Alpha 2 30-J uranium enrichment program at Oak Ridge, TN. Having graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1929 (now Carnegie Mellon University) with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Industries School, and having experience working for an energy producing company, e.g., Consolidated Coal, John Vegh was one of a number of draftsmen hired by Westinghouse Electric Corporation at their East Pittsburgh Manufacturing site in 1944. Under the employ of Westinghouse, John went to work developing vacuum tanks, liners, ion sources, collectors, and centrifuges for the Alpha 2 Beta calutrons.
In 1949, John was invited to join the newly formed Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Laboratory to begin development of a pressure water reactor for use in naval propulsion, and, President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” program; culminating in the first atomic powered submarine (USS Nautilus) and first commercial atomic power station at Shippingport, Pennsylvania. John remained involved in the development of atomic power through the balance of his career with Westinghouse Bettis Atomic Laboratory until he retired in 1972.
Information submitted by Vegh’s grandson, John Corrigan.