Sandia National Laboratories is one of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration laboratories. Sandia’s precursor was Z Division, created in 1945 as the ordnance design, testing, and assembly arm of Los Alamos. The Division moved to Sandia Base outside of Albuquerque to be near an airfield and work closely with the military. In 1948, Z Division’s growth prompted its designation as Sandia Laboratory, a separate branch of Los Alamos. On November 1, 1949, Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Electric, began managing Sandia. Sandia was made a national laboratory by 1979 legislation.