NucleCast

In this episode of NucleCast, we welcome Mark Peters of MITRE for a conversation about the changing strategic environment and the technologies shaping the future of deterrence.

Peters explores deterrence as a complex system-of-systems challenge, examining how artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, resilient system architecture, and enterprise modernization can strengthen situational awareness and support strategic stability. The discussion also looks at nuclear command, control, and communications modernization, the defense industrial base, and Project Meridian as the United States prepares for an increasingly complex future security environment.

The conversation offers a forward-looking look at what will be required to build a deterrent enterprise that is resilient, adaptable, and capable of responding to evolving threats.

Mark Peters, Ph.D. is President and CEO of MITRE, a not-for-profit technology company that operates research and development centers supporting government missions. A recognized expert in nuclear energy and national security, he has more than 25 years of experience leading scientific discovery at federally funded R&D centers. His previous roles include Director of Idaho National Laboratory, President of Battelle Energy Alliance, and Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Global Security at Argonne National Laboratory. He is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering and President of the American Nuclear Society.

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In Part Two of NucleCast’s special Legacy Series on the Wright Brothers, Robert Leddy returns to explore what happened after Wilbur and Orville Wright solved one of humanity’s greatest technological challenges, and how their breakthrough helped reshape the century that followed.

The conversation examines the early competition to achieve practical flight, including the work of Samuel Langley and Glenn Curtiss, the Wright brothers’ testing at Huffman Prairie, international advances in aviation, and the disputes that emerged as powered flight spread around the world.

Leddy then traces aviation’s rapid evolution through World War I, World War II, and into the Cold War, examining how the airplane developed from an experimental technology into an increasingly important element of military power and modern society. The discussion also considers a fascinating counterfactual: What might the 20th century have looked like if Wilbur and Orville Wright had never achieved practical controlled flight?

From aviation and military technology to the eventual emergence of rockets and other advanced systems, Part Two considers the far-reaching consequences of the Wright brothers’ work and the extraordinary chain of technological progress that followed.

Leddy is a North Carolina writer, actor, and longtime student of the Wright brothers whose extensive research explores their early lives, family relationships, and pioneering achievements. His research inspired Wilbur & Orville: The Workshop Upstairs, a one-person theatrical production that he wrote and performs, portraying nearly 14 characters while tracing the brothers’ story from Dayton, Ohio, to Kitty Hawk and beyond. Leddy has been a member of the Writers Guild since 2000.

https://wilburandorvilletheworkshopupstairs.com/

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Before aviation transformed transportation, warfare, commerce, exploration, and global affairs, two brothers working from a bicycle shop set out to solve a problem many believed could not be solved.

In Part One of this special two-part NucleCast Legacy Series, writer, actor, and longtime Wright brothers researcher Robert Leddy joins us to explore the extraordinary story of Wilbur and Orville Wright and the people, circumstances, and ideas that placed them on a path toward changing history.

Leddy has spent years studying the Wright brothers’ early lives, family relationships, and the qualities that ultimately contributed to their pioneering achievements in flight. His research inspired Wilbur & Orville: The Workshop Upstairs, a one-person theatrical production that Leddy wrote and performs, portraying nearly 14 characters while tracing the brothers’ journey from Dayton, Ohio, to Kitty Hawk and beyond. A North Carolina writer and actor, Leddy has been a member of the Writers Guild since 2000.

In this episode, Leddy takes us beyond the familiar story of the first flight to examine the Wright family itself, Wilbur’s pivotal injury, the important and often-overlooked role of Catherine Wright, and the brothers’ groundbreaking experiments with wind tunnels, aerodynamics, and flight control.

But their legacy extends far beyond the airplane. The Wright brothers helped usher in a technological transformation that would reshape the modern world.

https://wilburandorvilletheworkshopupstairs.com/

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The nuclear landscape is changing, and U.S. deterrence strategy must change with it. In this episode of NucleCast, Robert “Bob” Peters examines how the rise of China as a nuclear power, the continuing challenge posed by North Korea, and an increasingly complex security environment are reshaping the requirements for credible deterrence.

The conversation explores whether current U.S. nuclear modernization efforts are sufficient, the need for effective deterrence in the Western Pacific, and how conventional and theater-range nuclear capabilities can work together to influence an adversary’s decision calculus. Bob also discusses the growing role of missile defense, the potential place for artificial intelligence in nuclear decision-making, and how better information can provide leaders with a decision advantage during a crisis.

At the heart of the discussion is a fundamental question: What must the United States do today to ensure its deterrent remains credible in a world with multiple nuclear-armed adversaries?

About Robert Peters

Robert Peters is Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for National Security at The Heritage Foundation, where his work includes strategic stability, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and arms control. He previously served as lead strategist at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and as a Senior Research Fellow at National Defense University’s Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction. He also served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where his work included the New START Treaty and the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review

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In this episode of NucleCast, Hunter Hustus joins the conversation to examine the changing security environment in Europe and what it means for NATO deterrence. From the strategic importance of Gotland and the addition of Sweden and Finland to NATO, to the relationship between conventional forces and nuclear deterrence, Hustus explores what makes deterrence credible in an increasingly complex security environment.

The discussion also considers the value of a sustained U.S. presence in Europe, survivability and dispersal of forces, deterrence by denial, and the importance of continually stress-testing assumptions through exercises, gaming, and training. At the heart of the conversation is a critical question: How can NATO strengthen conventional defense while maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent and reducing the risk of escalation?

Key Topics:

• European security and NATO's strategic posture
• The importance of Gotland in NATO defense
• Deterrence credibility and observable actions
• The interaction between conventional and nuclear forces
• The impact of Sweden and Finland joining NATO
• Deterrence by denial and force posture
• The importance of steady state US forces in Europe
• Stress testing deterrence assumptions
• Nuclear force structure and credibility
• Decision calculus of adversaries

Dr. Hunter Hustus served more than 34 years with the U.S. Air Force as both an active-duty officer and civilian, specializing in nuclear deterrence strategy, policy, and strategic communications. A retired B-52 electronic warfare officer, he also served in NATO and later advised U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa on foreign policy and congressional affairs. He holds a Doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University and currently resides on Gotland, Sweden.

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In this episode of NucleCast, Professor Emeritus John Copper examines the complex relationship among the United States, China, and Taiwan and the factors that could shape the future of cross-Strait relations. The conversation explores the risk of conflict over Taiwan, the role of nuclear and other advanced weapons, and how artificial intelligence may influence future warfare and diplomacy.

Copper also discusses Taiwan’s strategic importance to U.S. interests, its critical role in global semiconductor production, and the political and electoral dynamics shaping the island’s future. From China's military posture and Taiwan's defense to questions of independence, identity, economic ties, and the possibility of peaceful resolution, the episode provides a wide-ranging look at one of the most important geopolitical challenges facing the international community.

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The Arctic is no longer a remote blank spot on the map - it is a frontline for missile defense, undersea warfare, and the future of U.S. national security. Bryan Clark reveals why America’s current posture leaves the “back door” exposed, and what it would actually take to see, move, and respond in the high north before a crisis hits.

Host, Adam and Bryan Clark break down the Arctic as a seabed-to-space battlespace, from aging radar sites in Greenland and Alaska to the growing threat of unmanned surface and undersea vehicles that can slip past today’s surveillance. Bryan explains why Russia’s Arctic advantage is bigger than most Americans realize, how Svalbard, the GIUK gap, and polar satellite links fit into the picture, and why low-flying drones and cruise missiles could be far harder to detect than the bomber and ICBM threats the U.S. still plans around.

You'll discover why Alaska becomes even more critical if Golden Dome moves forward, how Russia’s nuclear icebreakers and floating nuclear power plants support its Arctic dominance, and why U.S. and allied infrastructure is still too thin to keep pace. Bryan also lays out the practical fixes - from long-endurance unmanned aircraft to proliferated LEO satellites and new icebreakers - that could turn the Arctic from a vulnerability into a defended domain.

He also addresses China’s “near Arctic nation” ambitions too, including the commercial motive behind resource extraction, fishing, and shipping access, and the strategic logic behind wanting a stake in the region’s future. If you care about homeland defense, strategic competition, or the next major pressure point between the U.S., Russia, and China, this conversation shows exactly why the Arctic cannot stay an afterthought.

Bryan Clark

Bryan Clark is a senior fellow and Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson Institute. He leads studies there in naval operations and fleet architecture, electronic warfare, autonomous systems, military competitions, 5G telecommunications, and command and control.

Before joining Hudson Institute, Bryan was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), and special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations and director of his Commander’s Action Group. During his 25-year Navy career, Bryan was an enlisted and officer submariner.

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What does it take to build and sustain the industrial foundation behind America's national defense?

In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam Lowther sits down with Cullen Glass, CEO of Strong Chain LLC, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. defense industrial base. From workforce shortages in shipbuilding and submarine production to supply chain vulnerabilities and critical material shortages, Cullen explains why strengthening America's manufacturing capacity is essential to maintaining effective deterrence.

The conversation explores the vital role small businesses play in defense manufacturing, how artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping the industry, and what government programs are available to help suppliers compete and grow. Cullen also shares practical advice for navigating cybersecurity requirements, working with prime contractors, and positioning companies for long-term success in the defense sector.

Key Takeaways:

• Why workforce development is the defense industrial base's biggest challenge
• How supply chain resilience supports national security
• The growing importance of small businesses in defense manufacturing
• The impact of AI and automation on future defense jobs
• Strategies for succeeding as a defense supplier in a competitive market

Cullen Glass founded Strong Chain to strengthen the U.S. Defense Industrial Base, drawing on more than 28 years across defense, manufacturing, logistics, and global supply chains. He previously served as Vice President of Supply Chain Management at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, leading more than 1,200 professionals and managing $7B+ in supply chain spend for advanced naval programs. His career also includes nearly two decades at Honeywell in senior supply chain, operations, and IT manufacturing leadership roles.

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In this episode of NucleCast, Manolis sits down with Amir Vexler, CEO of Centrus Energy, to discuss one of the most critical challenges facing America's nuclear future: rebuilding domestic uranium enrichment capacity.

Vexler explores Centrus Energy's unique heritage, its successful deployment of American centrifuge technology, and the importance of maintaining unobligated enrichment capabilities to support both commercial nuclear energy and national security requirements. The conversation examines the global imbalance in uranium enrichment, the risks of dependence on foreign state-owned enterprises, and the steps being taken to strengthen the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle.

The discussion also covers workforce development, infrastructure modernization, public-private partnerships, and the growing market for high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). As demand for reliable, carbon-free energy continues to grow, Vexler explains why a resilient domestic nuclear fuel supply chain is essential to America's economic prosperity, energy security, and strategic competitiveness.

Whether you're interested in nuclear energy, national security, or the future of U.S. industrial capabilities, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the most important sectors underpinning America's future.

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Deb Gracio, Director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), sits down with us to discuss the laboratory's remarkable evolution from its Hanford roots to its current role as a leader in scientific innovation, nuclear security, and national security research.

With more than 35 years at PNNL, Gracio shares her journey from researcher to laboratory director and reflects on the history and mission of one of the Department of Energy's premier national laboratories. The conversation explores PNNL's contributions to nuclear security, nonproliferation, homeland security, and deterrence, as well as the growing role of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced computing in accelerating scientific discovery and supporting national security decision-making.

Gracio also discusses workforce development, the importance of knowledge transfer across generations of scientists and engineers, and how national laboratories are preparing the next generation to tackle complex security and scientific challenges.

Whether you're interested in deterrence, emerging technologies, scientific innovation, or the future of the national laboratory enterprise, this episode provides an insightful look inside one of America's most influential research institutions.

Deborah (Deb) Gracio is the Director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. She oversees a $1.7 billion research and development portfolio and a workforce of more than 6,000 staff advancing innovations in science, energy, and national security. A nationally recognized leader in data science, engineering, and national security, Gracio has held numerous leadership positions throughout her distinguished 35-year career at PNNL and is a Fellow of both the Washington State Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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