General Atomics (GA) is an American energy and defense corporation headquartered in San Diego, California, that specializes in research and technology development.

The company also provides research and manufacturing services for remotely operated surveillance aircraft, including its MQ-1 Predator drones, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless, and laser technologies.

General Atomics was founded on July 18, 1955, in San Diego, California, by Frederic de Hoffmann with assistance from notable physicists Edward Teller and Freeman Dyson.

GA also used a schoolhouse on San Diego's Barnard Street as its temporary headquarters, which it would later "adopt" as part of its Education Outreach program.

In 1956, San Diego voters approved the transfer of land to GA for permanent facilities in Torrey Pines, and the John Jay Hopkins Laboratory for Pure and Applied Science was formally dedicated there on June 25, 1959.

[10] On March 15, 2010, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Cassidy stepped down as president of GA-ASI's Aircraft Systems Group, staying on as non-executive chairman of the company's management committee.

[15] Linden P. Blue is the chief executive officer of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), the division responsible for manufacturing and selling the Reaper UAV.

[18] On 30 September 2020, General Atomics bought the Dornier 228 production line in Oberpfaffenhofen, along with the business aviation and helicopter MRO operations of RUAG, pending regulatory approval.

[43] In April 2002, the company paid for Letitia White, who was then a top aide to Representative Jerry Lewis, and her husband to travel to Italy.