Since 1957, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has had a continuing statutory responsibility for providing independent reviews of, and advice on, the safety of proposed or existing reactor facilities and the adequacy of proposed reactor safety standards in the United States of America. This paper discusses the role of the ACRS in power reactor licensing reviews as it has evolved during its more than 60 years of its history, noting some of its significant contributions to reactor safety.