Announcing the 20th Nuclear Triad Symposium
This December will mark the 20th anniversary of the Nuclear Triad Symposium.
In addition to the milestone anniversary, this year’s event is going virtual. The event will be streamed live from Bossier City, Louisiana Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.
This virtual symposium is being hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies (MI), the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) and the Louisiana Tech Research Institute (LTRI).
“In order to accommodate the health and safety of our speakers and attendees, we will be taking the step of moving the Nuclear Triad Symposium online. We will have a fantastic lineup that will showcase the importance of, and challenges facing, nuclear modernization across the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy,” said Craig Spohn, executive director and president of the CIC. “The Cyber Innovation Center is proud to support the nuclear mission via its Partnership Intermediary Agreement with Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) that will innovate to solve challenges in nuclear modernization.”
The symposium will address challenges the United States faces in pursuing the currently adopted nuclear modernization roadmap, with a review of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), the Columbia class submarine, the future planned bomber strategy, and the connected arms control and proliferation issues. We will also address related hypersonic technology as well as showcase the work of the symposium’s sponsors — MI, CIC, and LTRI — in these areas.
“We’re trying to expand the universe of people who understand nuclear modernization, arms control, and nuclear deterrence. By hosting an event once per year at a nuclear institution, it brings areas like AFGSC and BAFB into the discussion,” said Peter Huessy, director of strategic deterrent studies for Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “This effort to sustain, maintain and improve cooperative effort between the parties towards nuclear modernization requires all of America. I’m proud to say it has been a non-partisan, across the board consensus for multiple administrations in Washington D.C.”
A major focus of the symposium will be on the strategic capabilities of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). Gen. Timothy Ray, commander of AFGSC, will be the keynote speaker. Retired Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak will review the consequences of the post-Cold War procurement holiday. Lt. Gen. James Dawkins, deputy chief of staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters USAF, will address nuclear modernization. The symposium will also feature pre-recorded remarks from Lt. Gen. (Ret) Frank Klotz, RAND Corporation on the arms control environment.
“The 2020 Triad and Deterrence Symposium provides a reminder that the United States’ foundational defense rests upon an unwavering resolve to employ credible nuclear capability for national survival. 2020 has indeed proven to be a year of unforeseen world-wide challenges with the COVID pandemic and internal dissention among our own citizens during a hotly contested election. Yet, throughout these challenges, dedicated government, industry and policy professionals tirelessly work to sustain our nuclear foundation,” said Warren Ward, chief of staff and director of operations for LTRI. “To support this collaborative effort, LTRI provides interdisciplinary research and integrated education capability for professionals in the nuclear enterprise. LTRI currently provides Professional Continuing Education for Airmen engaged in Nuclear Command, Control and Communications processes.”
In addition, pre-recorded presentations from a distinguished line-up of speakers and experts will include:
Dr. Christopher Ford, Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation: “Issues to Watch in Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament”
Mark Gunzinger, Col, USAF (Ret), Director Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies: “Hypersonic Technology, Strategic Bombers and Nuclear Weapons: Resetting Deterrence”
John Harvey, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs: “U.S. Nuclear Modernization—Road to 2030 and Beyond”
Peter Huessy, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies: “Disarmament Fallacies”
Ronald F. Lehman II, Counselor to the Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: “Stability, Transparency and Risk: Arms Control Challenges for a New Era”
Captain Ethan Proper, USN, Missile Branch Head, Navy Strategic Systems Programs: “Columbia: An Update”
Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center: “Strategic Deterrence: Its Future if the Bomb Spreads”
Dr. Brad Thayer, Professor at the University of Texas San Antonio: “China’s Nuclear Strategy and Great Power Competition”
Colonel (Sel) Dan Voorhies, Air Force Global Strike Command lead on GBSD: “GBSD: An Update”
Drew Walter, PTDO Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters: “Overview of Strategic Nuclear Issues for the Next Administration”