In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Mohammed Faisal about Pakistan's nuclear program. Faisal provides a brief history of Pakistan's nuclear program, starting from the 1960s when Pakistan and India went to war over Kashmir. He explains that Pakistan's decision to pursue a nuclear option was driven by the perceived threat from India and the loss of East Pakistan in the 1971 war. Faisal also discusses Pakistan's current threat perception, which is primarily India-centric, and its...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Major General Stacey Huser, the 20th Air Force Commander, about the capabilities and challenges of the ICBM leg of the nuclear triad. They discuss the history of 20th Air Force, the aging Minuteman III missiles, and the importance of maintaining and sustaining the system. They also talk about the changes in the missile career path and the opportunities for leadership in the missile community. Major General Huser emphasizes the need for proper...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Brigadier General Retired Greg Bowen about hedging in nuclear conflicts. They discuss the importance of hedging as a strategy to quickly react to unforeseen events in a conflict. They also emphasize the need for the president to have multiple options and tools in the toolkit to deal with different scenarios. The conversation touches on the concept of the hedge, the known/unknowns in triad recapitalization, and the need for the United States to...

Bruce Tarter is Director Emeritus of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and was the eighth director to lead the Laboratory since it was founded in 1952. This episode covers the history and influence of the lab's technology on policy and strategy, the development of nuclear weapons, and the era of stockpile stewardship. It also delves into the challenges and wishes for the future of nuclear arms control. A theoretical physicist by training and experience, Bruce began his career at the...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Tom Ramos, a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, about the relevance of the early years of the Cold War to today's national security challenges. They discuss the lessons learned from the past and how they can inform our approach to handling current threats from Russia and China. They emphasize the importance of capturing and memorializing the history of this period and the need for strong policy analysts and integrated collaboration...

William Hennigan, national security correspondent for the New York Times Opinion Section, discusses his series of articles on nuclear issues and the motivation behind them. He highlights the convergence of events such as modernization efforts, arms control treaties, and the war in Ukraine that prompted the New York Times to focus on nuclear issues. Hennigan aims to bring these issues to the forefront and make them understandable to everyday people. He also discusses the response from the...

In this episode of NucleCast, Greg Weaver, former Deputy Director for Strategic Stability in the Joint Staff J5 and nuclear policy expert, discusses the potential use of nuclear weapons in a Taiwan conflict and the role of nuclear weapons in deterring and fighting China. Weaver emphasizes the need for the US to determine its strategy regarding nuclear weapons in the face of the two-peer problem with Russia and China. He also advocates for the rapid rebuilding and expansion of the US nuclear...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam and Colonel Curtis McGiffin discuss the need for an AI-enabled NC3 system with a dead hand. They argue that the current NC3 system and the decision-making process have significant problems that need to be addressed and propose using AI tools to enhance the decision-making process and improve the speed and effectiveness of the system. They also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of such a system and its importance for deterrence. The conversation highlights...

In this episode of NucleCast, Dr. Kyle Balzer discusses three topics: the submarine launch cruise missile (SLCM-N), the origins of tailored deterrence, and the concept of hedging the hedge. SLCM-N is seen as a missing piece in the US nuclear posture, providing regional presence, promptness to respond, widespread deployment, and complicating adversary defense planning. Tailored deterrence, which dates back to the Cold War, involves understanding the values and priorities of adversaries to...

Dr. Amit Gupta discusses the Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons programs and their relations with China. The Indian nuclear program was driven by the desire for autonomy and the need to showcase scientific ability. The Pakistanis pursued nuclear weapons as a deterrent against India's conventional advantage. Both countries have developed their nuclear capabilities over the years, with India having a 'no first use' policy and Pakistan adopting a more ambiguous stance. The Indian perspective...

In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam Lowther interviews Peter Huessy, a senior fellow at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies, about Annie Jacobsen's book 'Nuclear War, A Scenario.' They discuss the flaws in Jacobsen's arguments and mischaracterizations of American nuclear policy. Huessy points out that Jacobsen's scenario is unrealistic and rigged to lead to all-out nuclear war. He also refutes her claims about Ronald Reagan's views on nuclear weapons. The conversation highlights...

In this episode of NucleCast, Major General (Retired) Chris Adams shares his experiences flying the B-36 and B-52 aircraft and serving in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) during the Cold War. General Adams discusses the unique features of the B-36, including its three-pilot configuration and powerful engines. He also highlights the transition to flying the B-52, which he describes as a significant upgrade. General Adams then talks about his experience as a Minuteman missile crew commander and...

In this episode, Adam Lowther interviews Joseph Bosco, a former senior Department of Defense official, who discusses the complex challenges and decisions the US faces in a world with multiple adversaries, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Bosco emphasizes the need for strong leadership and a coordinated strategy to confront these threats. They also explore the continuous nature of war and the importance of recognizing the coordinated nature of the threats. The conversation...

In this episode, Adam and Dr. Kevin Cooney discuss the morality of nuclear weapons. They explore the concept of just war theory and its application to nuclear weapons, as well as the role of international law in regulating conflict. They delve into the historical context of the use of nuclear weapons in World War II and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. They also examine the current state of nuclear weapons and the arguments for disarmament. The conversation highlights the...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews US Air Force Brigadier General (ret) Rob Spalding, CEO of SEMPRE, about their 5G technology and its relevance to the nuclear enterprise. They discuss the need for resilient infrastructure in the face of natural disasters and potential EMP attacks. SEMPRE's technology aims to provide communication capabilities that can withstand such events and ensure the continuity of critical services. The deployment and functionality of SEMPRE's technology are...

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Santino, Commander of the 576 Flight Test Squadron, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, discusses the importance of ICBM testing and the unique mission of his squadron. He explains the process of ICBM testing and the role it plays in ensuring the effectiveness and reliability of the weapon system. Santino also addresses the need for a new Sentinel program and the challenges of sustaining the aging Minuteman III system. He shares interesting facts about the 576...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Ken Myers, the former director of DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency 2009-2016), about the agency's mission and history. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, he was the fourth and longest serving director of the agency. He oversaw an annual $3 billion budget and operated simultaneously as a defense agency, combat support agency, and a Combatant Command component safeguarding America and its allies from weapons of mass destruction. Under...

Dr. Malcolm Davis discusses the Australian perspective on AUKUS, American extended deterrence, and the views of China as a potential threat. He highlights the evolving relationship between Australia and the United States, the importance of the US alliance, and the role of AUKUS in strengthening defense capabilities. Davis emphasizes the need for a realistic and balanced approach to China, recognizing its strategic ambitions and the challenges it poses to Australia's security. He also...

Dr. William Conwell, Deputy Associate Administrator for Budget at the National Nuclear Security Administration, discusses the importance of the budget and the challenges of managing the nuclear security enterprise. The budget is allocated to five major national security endeavors, including maintaining the nuclear weapons stockpile, reducing global nuclear threats, and strengthening science and technology capabilities. Modernizing the nuclear security infrastructure is a key focus. The budget...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Polly Keim and Caleb Yip, program analysts at NNSA, to gain insights into the perspectives and experiences of young professionals in the field. The conversation covers topics such as the fellowship program, career paths, the role of non-engineering professionals, changing perspectives in NNSA, recruiting and retaining young talent, challenges faced by young workers, and the wishes of the guests for workforce development in NNSA.  Paulina "Polly"...

Retired senior intelligence officer Nick Eftimiades discusses China's whole of society approach to espionage and its impact on national security. He highlights the methods used by China, such as theft of technology, trade secrets, and covert influence operations. Eftimiades explains the reasons for ignoring Chinese espionage in the past and the need for a fundamental restructuring of the approach to counter it. He emphasizes the importance of spreading awareness and education in critical...

Rebecca Heinrichs discusses the aftermath of the Strategic Posture Commission's report and the lack of media coverage. She highlights the broad agreement on the threat assessment and the need for the United States to address the deteriorating threat environment. Heinrichs also discusses the interest from allies in Europe and Asia to contribute to the deterrence mission. She addresses misconceptions about arms races and escalation, emphasizing the importance of nuclear deterrence. Heinrichs...

Drysdale “Dale” H. Hernandez is the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) for Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command where he serves as the Chief, Force Development Division in the Directorate of Manpower and Personnel.  In this position he serves as the primary advisor to the MAJCOM Commander on all Learning Strategy issues. His A1D Division plans, develops, and directs advisory and support services for command-wide Professional Development. In this episode, Colonel retired Hernandez discusses...

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam Lowther interviews Whitney Jones.  She is the Director, Submarine Industrial Base (SIB), a component of the Navy’s (DON) Program Executive Office, Strategic Submarines (PEO SSBN). about the workforce challenges in submarine construction. They discuss the unique challenges of building submarines, the need for skilled tradespeople, and the efforts to recruit and retain a skilled workforce. They also address the impact of high cost of living areas on workforce...

Jim Stokes, Director of Nuclear Policy at NATO, discusses NATO's nuclear policy and the nuclear mission in Europe.  He covers various topics, including the relevance of NATO nuclear policy, the role and implications of the Nuclear Planning Group (NPG), efforts to improve the NATO deterrent, the policy issue of establishing an adversary, challenges for allies in nuclear policy, NATO's approach to the China challenge, and the challenge of unilateral disarmament.  Jim Stokes became the NATO...