Brigadier General Bill Murphy discusses the importance of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) system and their role in strategic deterrence. He explains that NC3 is a system of systems that ensures the President has command and control over nuclear forces and enables mission essential functions. General Murphy highlights the challenges of modernizing NC3 and the role of the NC3 Enterprise Center in overseeing the process. He emphasizes the importance of digital engineering and modeling in making informed decisions about future capabilities. General Murphy also calls for increased understanding and support for strategic deterrence and recognition of the work done by the men and women of the NC3 Enterprise.Brig. Gen. William D. Murphy serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He is the principal advisor to the Commander on Reserve Component matters related to the Command’s diverse missions, including strategic deterrence; cyberspace operations; integrated missile defense; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and global strike. Brig. Gen. Murphy also flies as an Airborne Emergency Action Officer conducting strategic deterrence and operations missions aboard the Looking Glass Airborne Nuclear Command Post, supporting the president and National Command Authorities. Brig. Gen. Murphy was commissioned in 1990 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at University of Nebraska, Omaha. He was a Distinguished Graduate in the MMII and MMIII weapon systems and has served in numerous wing, Numbered Air Force, Air Staff, Combatant Command and Joint Staff assignments. He has served on faculty for the Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University and as guest lecturer for the Air Force Nuclear Fundamentals Course and Nuclear Concepts Course. He was awarded Joint Qualified Officer (Level III) in 2012. In his civilian capacity, Brig. Gen. Murphy serves as Vice President of an Independent Consulting Firm based in Omaha Neb. Prior to his current position, he served as Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations and Communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode, Adam interviews Marcus Lea, the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), about the importance of human capital and growing the workforce in the nuclear security field. They discuss recruitment and retention strategies, promoting the mission to potential candidates, inspiring youth to pursue STEM fields, partnerships with minority serving institutions, mentoring and guidance for students, and addressing challenges in federal hiring. Mr. Lea provides management, leadership, and day-to-day guidance in the NNSA administrative functions, including budget, NNSA Human Resources, Business Services, Audit and Internal Affairs, Learning and Career Management, and International Operations, providing guidance and assistance to the Administrator in all administrative areas. He is also responsible for developing and implementing Working Capital and related business policies, systems, procedures, and practices of the Department and the NNSA to ensure that they are responsive to the requirements for effective,  efficient, and economical achievement of all programmatic goals and program objectives, and that they are fully supportive of the NNSA legislation and strategic plans.Prior to joining NNSA, Mr. Lea was Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center's Office of Human Capital. He led the entire scope of the Center's workforce strategy and planning, organization and leadership development, academic affairs, training and incentives, federal labor relations and employee services and operations. Prior to serving at NASA, Mr. Lea was Director for the Office of Human Capital Management at NNSA. He also served as DOE’s Deputy for the Office of Human Resources and as Director of Human Resources Operations.  Before joining DOE, Mr. Lea was a Civilian Personnel Officer for the United States Air Force District of Washington.  Mr. Lea began his professional career as an Allowances and Differentials Analyst for the United States Department of State and progressively served in leadership roles spanning all of the Human Resources disciplines for the Office of Personnel Management; the United States Air Force Materiel Command; the Defense Information Systems Agency; and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode, Zachary Kallenborn discusses the arguments made in his article on why a nuclear weapons ban would threaten humanity. He highlights that while nuclear weapons present an existential threat, there are other existential risks such as extreme biological weapons, planet killer asteroids, artificial intelligence, and super volcanoes. Removing nuclear weapons could potentially lead to a return of great power war, which would worsen these other risks. The breakdown of global cooperation, diversion of resources, damage to infrastructure, and potential renuclearization are some of the concerns discussed. The interdependencies between nuclear weapons and nuclear power, as well as the need for a better understanding of second and third order effects, are also emphasized.Zachary Kallenborn is an adjunct fellow (non-resident) with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a policy fellow at the Schar School of Policy and Government, a fellow at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies, a research affiliate with the Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), an officially proclaimed U.S. Army "mad scientist," and a national security consultant. He has published over 50 articles on autonomous weapons, drone swarms, weapons of mass destruction, and apocalyptic terrorism in a wide range of peer-reviewed, wonky, and popular outlets, including the Brookings Institution, Foreign Policy, Slate, Defense One, War on the Rocks, the Modern War Institute at West Point, Terrorism and Political Violence, and Parameters. Journalists have written about and shared that research in the New York Times, the AP, NPR, Forbes, Popular Mechanics, Politico, al Jazeera, the Independent, Newsweek, the New Scientist, WIRED, and the BBC, among dozens of others in dozens of languages. He is on the board of advisers of the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies at the University of Akron.Article: https://thebulletin.org/2024/01/why-a-nuclear-weapons-ban-would-threaten-not-save-humanity/Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam Lowther interviews Brendan Melley, Director, Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at the Institute for National Strategic Studies. Melley discusses the role of the center and its sponsors, as well as its impact on policy. They also delve into the topic of deterring the use of chemical weapons and the challenges associated with it. Melley shares his thoughts on the need for increased education on WMDs and the importance of clear declaratory statements. Finally, they discuss their wishes for the future, including increased awareness, resolution of regional conflicts, and a better understanding of the role of deterrence in preventing war.As Director, Mr. Melley oversees CSWMD’s three lines of work: research and analysis involving the role of WMD in U.S. national security policies and strategies, including strategic deterrence and the activities and programs of countering chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats; direct policy support to senior Defense and other USG leaders on WMD-related matters; and WMD education within the Joint Professional Military Education system and to other academic institutions in the Department of Defense. Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

George Farfour, the Associate Dean of the School of Strategic Force Studies at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), focuses on the educational initiatives undertaken by the Air Force to improve the nuclear knowledge of airmen. Colonel Farfour explains the role of AFIT and its various departments in providing continuing education for airmen in nuclear and nuclear command control and communication (NC3) fields. He discusses the courses offered by AFIT and the objectives of these courses, which include providing a deeper understanding of the political and strategic aspects of nuclear weapons and fostering appreciation for the interconnectedness of the nuclear enterprise. Colonel Farfour also highlights the Academic Partnerships for Nuclear Education (APNE) program, which allows airmen to pursue academic degrees and certificates related to nuclear studies.Before retiring after 37 years of uniformed service, he was most recently the  Chief, Defense Nuclear Inspections Oversight Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, where he was responsible to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the oversight of US Air Force and Navy nuclear inspection teams on the health and warfighting capability of the Nation’s nuclear triad. Colonel Farfour served as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Officer for most of his career, with extensive experience in nuclear war planning; national nuclear policy; conventional, nuclear, and space arms control policy, nuclear operations, nuclear weapon systems acquisition and sustainment and nuclear command, control and communications. He has also served in a variety of staff positions, including at U.S. Strategic Command, on the Air Staff at the Pentagon, and as Deputy Director of the Air Force Space Command Commander's Action Group. He served as the Chief, Nuclear Operations and Integration Division, Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters, United States Air Force. He also served as the Vice Commander, 90th Missile Wing, Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyo. and as the Vice Commander, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, NM.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Dr. Bruce Goodwin, a retired Senior Laboratory Fellow in the Center for Global Security Research of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, discusses his publication 'Nuclear Weapons Technology 101 for Policy Wonks' and the importance of understanding nuclear weapons design. He emphasizes the need for technical experts to communicate effectively with policy wonks and non-technical audiences, highlighting the importance of listening and avoiding jargon. Goodwin also discusses the challenges of sustaining a credible stockpile stewardship program and attracting the best and brightest to the nuclear field. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of nuclear deterrence in maintaining peace.From 2013 to 2016, Bruce was the Associate Director for National Security Policy Research in charge of the National Security Office (now the Office of Defense Coordination) and the Center for Global Security Research. From 2001 until 2013, he was the Principal Associate Director of the Nuclear Weapons Program at LLNL. Before that he was a nuclear weapons designer.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Congressman Chris Stewart discusses his experience in Congress and the dynamics of nuclear policy. He highlights the importance of committees and the role they play in shaping policy. He explains the responsibility of different committees for nuclear forces and the challenges of advocating for the nuclear arsenal as well as the debate between defense spending and other budget priorities.Chris Stewart served Utah in Congress for over a decade and became a senior member on both the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Appropriations Committee. He is a multiple New York Times best-selling and national award-winning author, world-record-setting Air Force pilot, and the former owner and CEO of a small business.Chris is one of ten children and grew up on a dairy farm in Cache Valley. He graduated from Utah State University, where he earned his degree in economics. Upon graduation, Chris joined the United States Air Force where he was the Distinguished Graduate (top of his class) in both Officer Training School and Undergraduate Pilot Training. He served for fourteen years as a pilot in the Air Force, flying both rescue helicopters and the B-1B bomber. He holds three world speed records, including the world’s record for the fastest non-stop flight around the world.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Dr. Jim Howe, a consultant in the space industry, talks about nuclear propulsion in space. He discusses the history of nuclear propulsion, current developments, and the advantages of nuclear rockets. Dr. Howe highlights the need for continued bipartisan support and the importance of nuclear technology for domestic and terrestrial applications. He also emphasizes the potential of nuclear propulsion for space exploration and the need for high standards of accountability and performance.Dr. Howe has extensive experience in nuclear energy, national and homeland security, policymaking, and communications. He has spent the last 14 years working in the nuclear industry, where he has been deeply involved in the development and commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors and uranium enrichment technology. Jim has collaborated with numerous partners in Congress, the executive branch, trade associations, and industry, in the U.S. and internationally.Jim holds a PhD from the University of Leicester, with his dissertation titled Atomic Space: A History and Analysis of U.S. policy for the development of nuclear space propulsion and power technologies. He is a distinguished graduate of the Marine Corps War College, where he earned a masters degree in strategic studies, and has also earned graduate degrees in space studies and government. Jim is the author of Red Crew: Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan’s Coast Guard and has had numerous articles published in defense- and space-related professional journals.Prior to his private sector experiences, Jim served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, with 11 years at sea and five in command of Coast Guard cutters. He retired at the rank of Captain (O-6). Jim also served at the Department of Homeland Security and as a policy advisor to the Vice President of the United States.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam Lowther interviews Joe Buff, an MIT-trained mathematician and author, about applying actuarial sciences to nuclear deterrence. The conversation explores the prediction of human behavior in deterrence, the application of actuarial sciences to improve deterrence strategies, and the importance of vetting assumptions in deterrence models. Joe Buff also shares his three wishes related to the topics discussed: the need for Americans to know and care about nuclear deterrence, building the right workforce for deterrence efforts, and ensuring a smooth modernization process. The episode concludes with a comprehensive look at deterrence in the 21st century.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode of NucleCast, guest Matthew Sermon, the Executive Director of the Program Executive Office Strategic Submarines, discusses the future of ballistic missile submarines. He describes the status of the future submarine program, the differences between the Ohio and Columbia class submarines, considerations for cost and schedule, challenges with the industrial base, additive manufacturing in submarine construction, addressing corrosion and coatings, and the importance of submarine construction for national security. Matt shares his three wishes for the future, including national outreach programs, workforce retention and upskilling, and the urgency and agility in transitioning to advanced manufacturing.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]