NucleCast

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James Kraska, S.J.D. - The Role of International Law Supporting Deterrence Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam Lowther interviews James Kraska, an expert in international maritime law, about the role of international law in shaping conflict. They discuss the history and impact of international law, its strengths and weaknesses, and its relevance in preventing conflict. They also examine the failures of international law in the cases of Ukraine and Taiwan, and the challenges posed by countries like Russia and China. The importance of international law in the South China Sea dispute is highlighted, as well as the role of self-help and collective action in upholding international law. The episode concludes with a discussion on the need for investment in emerging technologies and the importance of economic policy in supporting international law.

Takeaways

International law is the language of diplomacy and underpins the sovereign state system.
International law provides a common rule book and has a normative influence on states.
The weaknesses of international law include the lack of a lawmaking body, executive enforcement, and an effective international court system.
International law has failed in preventing conflicts in cases like Ukraine and Taiwan.
International law is relevant in preventing conflict and maintaining global stability.
The South China Sea dispute highlights the importance of international law.
Self-help and collective action are necessary to enforce international law.
Allies play a crucial role in upholding international law.
Investment in emerging technologies and economic policy are essential to support international law.

James Kraska Bio

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Tyler Hamilton - Perspectives from a Missile Maintainer: A Career in the Missile Fields Dec 14, 2023

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With a decade of experience in the aerospace industry, Tyler currently serves as a Future Systems Integration Engineer at the ARES Corporation, dedicated to supporting NASA's Future Systems Project Office at the Kennedy Space Center. His journey began with his role as a 2M0X2 in the United States Air Force maintaining the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from 2014-2023.

Tyler was stationed at F.E. Warren AFB and Vandenberg AFB and worked numerous roles within the 2M0X2 community including Missile Maintenance Team Topside Technician, charged with the safe transportation and maintenance of the Minuteman III Aerospace Vehicle Equipment (AVE) for 150 Launch Facilities spread out between Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. Maintenance Operations Center Controller and Missile Maintenance Quality Assurance. Culminating in his final role within the Air Force as a Minuteman III Technical Training Instructor.

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Zachary Davis, Ph.D. - The Inflection Point in Global Politics Dec 12, 2023

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Dr. Zachary S. Davis is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a Research Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he teaches courses on counterproliferation. He has broad experience in intelligence and national security policy and has held senior positions in the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. His regional focus is South Asia.

Davis began his career at the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress and has served with the State Department, Congressional committees, and the National Security Council. Davis was group leader for proliferation networks in LLNL’s Z Program and in 2007 he was Senior Advisor at the National Counter Proliferation Center, in the office of the Director of National Intelligence. He is the author of numerous government studies and reports on technical and regional proliferation issues. He leads a project on the national security implications of advanced technologies, focusing on special operations forces.

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Alan Carr - The History of Los Alamos National Laboratory Part 2 Dec 07, 2023

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Alan B. Carr currently serves as a Program Manager and the Senior Historian for Los Alamos National Laboratory. During his tenure as a Laboratory historian, which began in 2003, Alan has produced several publications and lectures pertaining to the Manhattan Project, nuclear testing history, and the historical evolution of LANL. He has lectured for numerous professional organizations and has been featured as a guest on many local, national, and international radio and television programs. Before coming to Los Alamos, Carr completed his graduate studies at Texas Tech University.

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Alan Carr - The History of Los Alamos National Laboratory Part 1 Dec 05, 2023

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Curtis Buckles - The Navy's Role in Deterrence Nov 30, 2023

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Mr. Curtis Buckles is the Navy’s Strategic Deterrence Policy Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations, Strategy and Policy) (N3N5). His responsibilities include providing Navy strategy and policy guidance on strategic and integrated deterrence, countering of weapons of mass destruction policy, nuclear weapons programs, stockpiles, deployments, employment policy, safety, security, survivability, nuclear command & control, and international arms control treaties to the N3N5 and Chief of Naval Operations. Additionally, Mr. Buckles is the CNO’s Navy action officer for the DoD/DOE Nuclear Weapons Council.

Mr. Buckles joined the Navy staff in 2005 and has extensive experience in nuclear weapons operations, policy, strategy, and management. Mr. Buckles retired from the United States Air Force in 2005 after 24 years of service that included positions as the ICBM Nuclear Policy Advisor to the Joint Staff J5 Director of Strategy and Policy, assignments as an ICBM launch officer, Command Instructor, maintenance officer, and the command lead project officer for the Minuteman III Guidance Replacement Program and the guidance applications programs. Additionally, Mr. Buckles’ Air Force career includes experience as the Director of Operations for the combined U.S. Air Force - Australian Defence Forces Joint Defence Facility Nurrungar Defense Support Program facility at Woomera, South Australia and as the Deputy Division Chief for Air Force Requirements Development in HQ USAF.

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The Honorable Frank Miller - Strategic Posture Commission Report Nov 28, 2023

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The Honorable Franklin Miller is a principal at the Scowcroft Group in Washington, DC. He dealt extensively with nuclear policy and nuclear arms control issues during his 31-year government career, which included senior positions in the Defense Department and on the NSC staff.

He was directly in charge of US nuclear deterrence and targeting policy from 1985 to 2001 and also chaired NATO’s senior nuclear policy committee, the High-Level Group, from 1997 to 2001. He is a member of the Strategic Command Advisory Board and served on the Defense Policy Board from 2008-2020.

He served on the 2008 Secretary of Defense Task Force on DoD Nuclear Weapons Management (Schlesinger Task Force), on the 2013-2014 Congressional Advisory Panel on the Nuclear Security Enterprise (Mies-Augustine Panel), and is currently a member of the on-going Congressional Commission on Strategic Posture.

He publishes frequently on deterrence and arms control issues. He has been awarded the Defense Department's highest civilian award, the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, five times and received the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal in lieu of a sixth award.

Mr. Miller has also been awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II, the Norwegian Royal Order of Merit (Grand Officer), the French Legion of Honor (Officer), and Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun (Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon). A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Director of the Atlantic Council, he received his BA from Williams College and his MPA from Princeton University. He served as a surface warfare officer from 1972 to 1975.

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Codeac Solutions: Revolutionary Technology and Partnerships Nov 21, 2023

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Aaron McAdow, Head of US Marketing Development

Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Aaron McAdow, who has more than 20 years of experience in US Special Operations and other Joint Strategic DoD programs. Aaron currently serves as Codeac Solution’s Head of US Market Development and advises on technology integration to meet operational requirements

Ben Hall, CEO and President

A former Australian Army Officer, Ben is the CEO and President of Codeac Solutions. Ben previously held executive roles at publicly listed companies and senior advisory roles in strategy consulting, he has experience across defense, politics and public sector industries globally.

Catherine Riddle PhD, Inventor

The co-inventor of Codeac Solutions, Cathy is a senior research scientist at Idaho National Laboratory and has 24 years’ experience in radiochemistry research for nuclear energy and national security

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Jennifer McArdle, Ph.D. Wargaming - The Realm of Possibility Nov 16, 2023

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Dr. Jennifer McArdle is the Senior Director of Futures and Advanced Concepts at CAE USA, where she focuses on applying innovative simulation technology to defense. She is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security in their Defense Program and Wargaming Lab, and a member of the Editorial Board and Adjunct Professor at the Joint Special Operations University. A former professor, McArdle has served on former Congressman Langevin’s cyber advisory committee and as an expert member of a NATO technical group that developed cyber effects for the military alliance’s campaign simulations. McArdle holds a PhD from King’s College London in War Studies, is the recipient of the RADM Fred Lewis (I/ITSEC) doctoral scholarship in modeling and simulation and is a certified modeling and simulation professional (CMSP). She is a term member with the Council on Foreign Relations and was named an honorary Mad Scientistby the US Army Training and Doctrine Command.

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Robert J. Peters, Ph.D. - The Dawn of the New Nuclear Age: Reactions to the Strategic Posture Commission Report Nov 14, 2023

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Robert J. Peters is a Senior Fellow for Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense, The Heritage Foundation. He was previously the Chief within the Strategic Integration Directorate of the Strategic Trends and Effects Department (STED) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. STED’s mission is to generate timely, credible, and actionable insights into threats within the counter-WMD and counter-emerging threat mission space and to assess the effectiveness of Agency efforts to support the Joint Warfighter. STED also sponsors a strategic dialogues program with allies and partners, table top exercises, and a number of research efforts. Prior to joining DTRA, Mr. Peters served as a Senior Research Fellow at National Defense University's Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

From March-November 2009, Mr. Peters was detailed to the Office of the Secretary of Defense-Policy as Special

Assistant to the DASD for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. Prior to joining National Defense University, Mr. Peters worked as a Technical Analyst for the Northrop Grumman Corp., and as a Research Associate for the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.

Mr. Peters received an MA from Georgetown University in National Security Studies and a BA in Political Science and History from Miami University. His publications include: "Deterrence in the 21st Century: Integrating Nuclear and Conventional Force;" in Strategic Studies Quarterly; “A New Approach to Eliminating North Korean Weapons of Mass Destruction is Needed;” at 38north.com; and “The WMD Challenges Posed by a Collapse of North Korea,” in the Nonproliferation Review.

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