2016 PONI Fall Conference
Draft Agenda
October 18-19, 2016
Sandia National Laboratories, Center for Global Security & Cooperation
10600 Research Road Southeast
Albuquerque, New Mexico87123
Day One: Tuesday, October 18
8:15Shuttle Departs from Hotel to Sandia, Center for Global Security & Cooperation
8:30Conference Check-in & Breakfast
8:55Conference Welcome
Rebecca Hersman, Director Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
9:00Opening Remarks
Jill Hruby, Director, Sandia National Laboratories
9:15Panel 1: The Future of Deterrence
Panel Moderator: Mr. Chuck Lutes, Director, Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, National Defense University
Capability or Will? 21st Century Nuclear Deterrence for Global Strike Operators
Captain Chris Conant, United States Air Force
Missile Defense’s Role in 21st Century Deterrence
Wes Rumbaugh, Research Assistant, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Scottish Independence Part II: The End of the UK Nuclear Deterrent?
James McKeon, Policy Analyst, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Anticipatory Strikes in Russian Military Doctrine
Alex Velez-Green, Research Assistant, Center for New American Security
10:45Break
11:00Panel 2: Nonproliferation Themes & Regimes
Panel Moderator: Michael Elliott, Former Deputy Director for Strategic Stability, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff
The ‘Accidental Middlemen’: Nuclear Umbrella States and the Humanitarian Initiative
Emil Dall, Research Analyst, Royal United Services Institute
Conceptualizing a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East: A Quantitative Approach
Eric Wallace, Sandia National Laboratories
Leveraging Nuclear Cybersecurity Leadership to Foster U.S.–Russian Collaboration
Elsie Bjarnason, MA Candidate, George Washington University
12:30Lunch & Breakout Session: Priorities for the Next Nuclear Posture Review
Participants will be placed into one of five schools of thought on nuclear thinking and asked to draft recommendations for what they believe should be the priorities for the next nuclear posture review based on their school of thought.
12:30 – 12:45: Review of schools of thought
12:45 – 1:45: Group discussion about priorities
1:45 – 2:15: Write bullet-point rationales for priorities
2:15 – 3:00: Return to conference room for 5-minute briefsand group discussion
3:00Break
3:20Panel 3: Securing Nuclear Materials and Facilities
Panel Moderator: Dr. Andrew Ross, Professor, George H.W. Bush School of Government & Public Service, Texas A&M University
How Vulnerable Are Radiological Materials Stored at U.S. Civilian Entities to Theft by a Terrorist Group?
Maciej Lempke, MA Graduate, Georgetown University
Reactor in a Box: Unpacking the Potential of Small Modular Reactors
Dr. Lizzie Murray, Atomic Weapons Establishment
The State of Nuclear Forensics: Achievements from the Last Decade and Challenges for the Future
Leore Ben-Chorin, Herbert Scoville Peace Fellow 2015-2016
5:00Shuttle Departs for National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
601 Eubank Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123
6:00Reception
7:00Dinner & Evening Keynote Address
8:30End of Day One/Shuttle Returns to Sheraton
Day Two: Wednesday, October 19
8:15Shuttle Departs from Sheraton to Sandia, Center for Global Security & Cooperation
8:30Breakfast at Sandia, Center for Global Security & Cooperation
9:00Small Group Sessions 1 & 2
Session 1: What’s in the numbers? The nuclear modernization budget debate
Moderator: TBA
Session 2: Implications of Brexit on NATO, US, and UK Nuclear Debate
Moderator: Rebecca Hersman, Director Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
10:30Break
10:45Small Group Sessions 3 & 4
Session 3: TBA
Moderator: Michael Elliott, Former Deputy Director for Strategic Stability, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff
Session 4: Intersection of Science/Technical Fields and Policymakers
Moderator: TBA
12:15Lunch and Small Group Overview
1:00Shuttle Departs forKirtland AFB for Sandia Facility tours
4:00End of Conference
Shuttle Departs for Hotel