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Strengthening
nuclear discourse
and diplomacy

The Nuclear Security Working Group (NSWG) is a non-partisan group of experts working to promote discourse and build consensus on the United States’ most pressing nuclear issues.

We work behind the scenes to provide policymakers and NGOs with the expertise they need to make informed decisions on global nuclear issues.
Our leadership team includes senior foreign policy experts, military officials, and leading scholars in the field of nuclear security.
NSWG

Our Members

Ms. Madelyn Creedon

Ms. Madelyn Creedon

Chair, NSWG
Madelyn Creedon is a Research Professor of International Affairs and Chair of the Nuclear Security Working Group at the George Washington University. She has had a long and distinguished career...
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General (Ret.) C. Robert “Bob” Kehler

General (Ret.) C. Robert “Bob” Kehler

Former commander of STRATCOM
General Robert Kehler retired from the United States Air Force in 2013 after almost 39 years of distinguished service. He offers his expertise as a consultant, non-executive corporate Director of two international aerospace companies, and as a Trustee of the Mitre Corporation. He speaks widely on matters of national security, particularly governance, institutions and organizations, and military.
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Dr. Kathleen Hicks

Dr. Kathleen Hicks

Senior Vice President
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Kathleen Hicks is Senior Vice President, Henry A. Kissinger Chair, and Director of the International Security Program at CSIS. Her 25 year career has also included time served in the Obama administration in senior positions in defense policy and strategy, and she has become an expert in issues such as counterterrorism and homeland security, long-term futures, and weapons of mass destruction proliferation.
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Mr. Frank A. Rose

Mr. Frank A. Rose

Senior Fellow, Security and Strategy
Brookings Institution
Frank A. Rose is a Senior Fellow for security and strategy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. He previously served as Principal Director and Chief of Government Relations at the Aerospace Corporation, and has held various national security staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives during his 20 year career. He specializes in nuclear strategy and deterrence, arms control, strategic stability, missile defense, outer space, and emerging security challenges.
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Dr. Vipin Narang

Dr. Vipin Narang

Associate Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Vipin Narang is an Associate Professor of Political Science at MIT and member of MIT’s Security Studies Program. He has previously held fellowships at both Harvard and Stanford Universities. His research interests include nuclear proliferation and strategy, South Asian security, and general security studies.
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Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Castellaw

Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Castellaw

President
Crockett Policy Institute
Lieutenant General John Castellaw (Ret.) is the president of the Crockett Policy Institute (CPI) a non-partisan policy and research organization chartered in Tennessee. He spent 36 years serving in the Marines, holding several operational commands. He is a recognized national security expert, with a particular focus on defense spending and strategy, and issues of food security.
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Dr. Jane Vaynman

Dr. Jane Vaynman

Assistant Professor
Temple University
Dr. Jane Vaynman is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Temple University, and was previously the Associate Director of the Institute for Security and Conflict Studies and Research Assistant Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. She is also the Co-founder of the Nuclear Studies Research Initiative. She is known for her expertise in security cooperation between adversarial states and the design of arms control agreements.
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Hon. Elbridge Colby

Hon. Elbridge Colby

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development
Department of Defense
Hon. Elbridge Colby is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy & Force Development, and was recently a Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. He focuses on strategic deterrence, nuclear weapons, conventional force and intelligence.
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Hon. Walter B. Slocombe

Hon. Walter B. Slocombe

Senior Counsel
Caplin & Drysdale
Walter B. Slocombe is the Secretary, Director, and member of the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Council and a Senior Counsel at the Washington, D.C., law firm Caplin & Drysdale. He has over 50 years’ experience, including many years with the Defense Department, and has developed particular expertise in legal and ethical considerations in information operations.
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Lieutenant General (Ret.) Frank G. Klotz

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Frank G. Klotz

Under Secretary for Nuclear Security
National Nuclear Security Administration
Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz is the Department of Energy’s Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He has more than 20 years experience in both military positions and policy and management roles, with his time at the U.S. Embassy Moscow leading to a particular specialism in U.S.-Russian relations.
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Ambassador Laura S. H. Holgate

Ambassador Laura S. H. Holgate

Vice President for Materials Risk Management, Nuclear Threat Initiative
Ambassador Laura S. H. Holgate joined NTI as Vice President for Materials Risk Management in April 2018. Previously, Ambassador Holgate was a consultant to the Third Way’s project on advanced nuclear...
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Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr.

Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr.

Ambassador
Palmer Coates
Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr. is President of Palmer Coates LLC, and was Chairman of the non-partisan Stimson Center. During his 35 year career he has also held roles as U.S. Special Envoy for MANPADS Threat Reduction, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs, and as Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State for Humanitarian Mine Action. He specializes in U.S. defense, intelligence, U.S. alliances, and U.S. defense strategy.
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Dr. Austin Long

Dr. Austin Long

Political Scientist
RAND Corporation
Dr. Austin Long is a Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation and non-resident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was previously an Associate Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. His research interests include low-intensity conflict, military innovation and the political economy of national security.
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Dr. Caitlin Talmadge

Dr. Caitlin Talmadge

Associate Professor
Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Dr. Caitlin Talmadge is an Associate Professor in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, where she serves on the core faculty of the Security Studies Program. She...
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Dr. Amy Zegart

Dr. Amy Zegart

Co-Director and Senior Fellow, CISAC
Stanford University
Amy Zegart is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and an affiliated faculty member at the Center for International Security and Cooperation. She previously served on the Clinton administration’s National Security Council staff and as a foreign policy advisor to the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign. Her wide ranging experience over more than 20 years has led to her recognition by the National Journal as one of the ten most influential experts in intelligence reform.
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Dr. Alexander T. J. Lennon

Dr. Alexander T. J. Lennon

Editor-in-Chief
Washington Quarterly
Dr. Alexander T. J. Lennon is the Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Quarterly, hosted at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. For the last 20 years he has researched and written on topics including the grand strategy, foreign and security policies, and nuclear security strategy.
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Dr. Edward Levine

Dr. Edward Levine

Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Ret.)
Dr. Edward Levine is a retired senior professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), with over 40 years’ experience. Before that, he was a professional staff member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and also taught Political Science at both the University of Michigan and Rice University. He is a leading specialist on arms control, non-proliferation, and U.S arms sales to other countries.
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Dr. Elizabeth N. Saunders

Dr. Elizabeth N. Saunders

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
George Washington University
Dr. Elizabeth N. Saunders is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Over the last decade she has held numerous fellowships, with her research and teaching interests focusing on international security and U.S. foreign policy, including the politics of using force.
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Dr. Francis J. Gavin

Dr. Francis J. Gavin

Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and the Director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Francis J. Gavin is the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and the inaugural Director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at SAIS-Johns Hopkins University. Over the last 20 years he has also held positions at MIT and the University of Texas. He has particular interest in European, Iranian and American foreign policy, as well as NATO and U.S. grand strategy.
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Dr. Jim Miller

Dr. Jim Miller

Senior Fellow
Adaptive Strategies, LLC
Dr. Jim Miller is President of Adaptive Strategies, LLC. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic Council, and on the Board of Advisors for Endgame, Inc. Over the last three decades he has also served as the principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense on strategy, policy, and operations, working to strengthen relations with allies and partners in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
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Dr. James M. Acton

Dr. James M. Acton

Co-Director, Nuclear Policy Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Dr. James M. Acton is Co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He is a prolific writer in the field of nuclear policy, and was a recipient of the competitive Carnegie Corporation of New York grant on New Technologies and the Nuclear Threat that funds his ongoing research into the escalation implications of advanced conventional weapons.
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Dr. Susan J. Koch

Dr. Susan J. Koch

Distinguished Research Fellow
National Defense University
Dr. Susan J. Koch is an independent consultant, specializing in policy issues regarding arms reduction and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. She previously spent 25 years working in government, holding a series of positions at the White House and the Department of State.
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Dr. Scott D. Sagan

Dr. Scott D. Sagan

Senior Fellow
Stanford University
Dr. Scott D. Sagan is the Caroline S.G. Munro Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, as well as holding multiple fellowships. He was previously a lecturer in the Department of Government at Harvard University. His 30 year career also includes time spent working at the Pentagon. He is an expert in nuclear strategy, ethics and war, public opinion about the use of force, nuclear non-proliferation, and the safety of hazardous technology.
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Kenneth Myers

Kenneth Myers

Senior Vice President for Defense and Security, PAE National
Security Solutions (NSS)
Kenneth Myers, is a Senior Vice President for Defense and Security at PAE National Security Solutions (NSS). NSS has nearly 3,000 employees, and is a world-wide authority in performing and...
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Michael Elliott

Michael Elliott

National Security Consultant
Michael Elliott is the former Deputy Director for Strategic Stability Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this role, Mr. Elliott is responsible for the formulation of joint staff...
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Professor Charles L. Glaser

Professor Charles L. Glaser

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs; Director, Institute for Security and Conflict Studies
George Washington University
Dr. Charles L. Glaser is a Professor in the Elliott School of International Affairs and the Department of Political Science at The George Washington University, and Director of the Elliott School’s Institute for Security and Conflict Studies. He has previously taught at the University of Chicago and University of Michigan, and served in the Pentagon. His research focuses on international relations theory and international security policy.
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Ryan Evans

Ryan Evans

CEO and Editor in Chief, War on the Rocks
Ryan Evans is the founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of War on the Rocks and the publisher of the Texas National Security Review. When he was young and didn't know any...
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Professor Shai Feldman

Professor Shai Feldman

Judy and Sidney Swartz Director, Crown Center for Middle East Studies and Professor of Politics
Brandeis
Dr. Shai Feldman is Professor of Politics and the Judith and Sidney Swartz Director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University, and a member of the Board of Directors of Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. During his 35 year career, he has also served as a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. His expertise are focused on Israel-Palestinian negotiations, nuclear proliferation, U.S. policy in the Middle East, and Israel foreign policy.
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Mr. Peter Huessy

Mr. Peter Huessy

Senior Defense Consultant
Air Force Association
Peter Huessy is Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and President of his own defense consulting firm, GeoStrategic Analysis. His 40 years’ experience has also included serving at the National Defense University Foundation, the AFPC and the Air Force Association. He specializes in developing and implementing public policy campaigns to secure support for important national security objectives.
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Lt. Gen. Jack Weinstein (USAF, Ret.)

Lt. Gen. Jack Weinstein (USAF, Ret.)

Prior to his recent retirement, Lieutenant General Jack Weinstein was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters United States Air Force.  In this position, he was responsible...
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Latest News

Fit for Purpose? The U.S. Strategic Posture in 2030 and Beyond

Fit for Purpose? The U.S. Strategic Posture in 2030 and Beyond

"The time is ripe to revisit questions about the future of the U.S. strategic posture. Next year, 2021, will bring a new defense strategy review...

The Military Case for Extending the New START Agreement

The Military Case for Extending the New START Agreement

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Frank G. Klotz

"By capping the number of Russian long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear-equipped heavy bombers and putting in place comprehensive verification measures, New START reduces uncertainty regarding...

Negotiating with Great Powers on Nuclear Arms

Negotiating with Great Powers on Nuclear Arms

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Frank G. Klotz

"Striking a deal with Beijing in the next six months is highly unlikely. Accordingly, if the U.S. should agree to extend New START it could help...

Wormhole Escalation in the New Nuclear Age

Wormhole Escalation in the New Nuclear Age

Ms. Rebecca Hersman

“Increasingly capable and intrusive digital information technologies, advanced dual-use military capabilities, and diffused global power structures will reshape future crises and conflicts between nuclear-armed adversaries...

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