On June 21-23, the NATO Defense College Research Division hosted the 5th edition of the Early-Career Nuclear Strategists Workshop (ECNSW). Led by Senior Researcher Andrea Gilli, the ECNSW gathered promising young scholars of nuclear issues to interact closely with senior policymakers and academic experts on nuclear strategy. This year’s event brought together a diverse group of attendees from both sides of the Atlantic, with participants varying in their academic specializations, institutional affiliations, and degrees of experience.
Organized in collaboration with NATO Headquarters’ Nuclear Policy Directorate, the workshop sessions were comprised of guest lectures by senior experts, followed by junior scholar paper presentations and a Q&A period. Junior scholars were given the opportunity to hear from several high-level NATO officials, including the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) General Philippe Lavigne, as well as Ms Jessica Cox, NATO Nuclear Policy Director, and Mr Joseph Dobbs, Senior Officer in the Nuclear Policy Directorate. Ms Mélanie Rosselet, Director for Strategy and Policy at the French Atomic Energy Commission; Prof. Marina Henke from the Hertie School in Berlin; Ms Elaine Bunn, Consultant on strategic issues and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy; Mr Lukasz Kulesa, Acting Head of Research at the Polish Institute of International Affairs; Prof. Todd Robinson from the School of Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies & Air Command and Staff College; and Prof. Alexander Mattelaer of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) also provided expert lectures and feedback. Paper presentations covered a variety of pressing nuclear issues, including nuclear security and international law; technological advancement; escalation dynamics; nuclear physics; and emerging challenges to nuclear strategies.
Lastly, on Friday, the workshop attendees participated in a nuclear crisis simulation, organized by Prof. Michael Hunzeker and Mr David White, both from George Mason University (GMU).
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Torill Settemsdal Hansen, NOR C)
NATO Defense College