NucleCast

In this Legacy Series, Lt. Gen. James Kowalski discusses the creation of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) in response to incidents that highlighted the need for improved nuclear enterprise management. The incidents included the accidental shipment of warheads and fuses, which raised concerns about operational oversight and surety processes. The stand-up of AFGSC aimed to consolidate the Air Force's nuclear enterprise and ensure a dedicated focus on nuclear deterrence. General Kowalski emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong nuclear mission and integrating nuclear planning with conventional operations. The conversation will continue in a second episode.

General Kowalski was commissioned in 1979 through the ROTC program at the University of Cincinnati. He held a variety of operational commands, including a bomb squadron, an operations group, a bomb wing, and an air control wing over his 35-year career. Kowalski retired from active duty on 1 September 2015.

Kowalski's experience includes command of the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia where he led a combined wing of B-1Bs, E-3s and KC-135s for operation Iraqi Freedom. His previous staff assignments include Headquarters Air Combat Command, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In January 2009 he led the organization and activation of the Air Force’s first new major command in 27 years and subsequently served as the second Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. In that position he oversaw the modernization of the Air Force’s nuclear-capable bomber and missile systems and developed the strategic forces five-year plan. His last assignment was Deputy Commander of U.S. Strategic Command.

A command pilot, he has over 4,600 flight hours, including 127 combat hours, in the B-1, B-52, and E-3. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Following military service, Kowalski was a vice-president for the Northrop Grumman Corporation. He supported the company’s portfolio of defense systems including the B-2, B-21, and the Minuteman III and Sentinel ballistic missile systems. In 2023, he retired from Northrop Grumman and now advises on management and defense issues.

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

The Honorable Lucian Niemeyer, a leading voice in the policymaking community for advanced nuclear capabilities, discusses the work of the United Coalition for Advanced Nuclear Power (UCAN Power), a non-profit entity since 2021, in promoting advanced nuclear reactor deployment. He emphasizes the importance of nuclear power for grid reliability and carbon reduction. Niemeyer also highlights the need to develop a strong civilian nuclear workforce to support national defense and restore the nuclear industrial base. He discusses the potential of microreactors for powering military installations and the importance of accelerating the regulatory process for advanced nuclear technology. He calls for prioritizing grid reliability and restoring US global leadership in nuclear power.

Lucian’s national security expertise spans five decades as an Air Force and the Air National Guard Officer, Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Service Committee, and in the Pentagon and White House. Throughout his professional career, he has been a strong advocate for the use of clean, safe advanced nuclear power to enhance energy reliability and resiliency.

Niemeyer previously was appointed by the President and served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense managing the world’s largest real property portfolio valued at a trillion dollars. He was responsible for identifying and mitigating risk to national security programs, as well as improving energy and environmental resilience through alternate power generation development and investments in the protection of natural resources. During this time, he worked extensively with the Departments of Energy and Interior to balance the need for energy independence with the sustainment of national military capabilities.

He also served on the professional staff of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Service from 2003 to 2014 providing expertise and counsel on policies and programs for the energy programs supporting our Nation’s security.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of UCAN Power

04:00 The Role of Nuclear Power in the Nuclear Triad

07:59 The Importance of a Strong Civilian Nuclear Workforce

13:45 The Use of Microreactors for Military Installations

17:45 Grid Reliability and the Need for Nuclear Power

25:07 Energy Priorities for the Next Administration

28:59 Bringing Advanced Nuclear Technology to the Nation

33:10 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Guest host, Jim Howe, interviews Andrew Metrick and Phil Shears from the Center for New American Security (CNAS) on escalation management in a protracted war with China. They discuss the implications of a potential conflict with China and the need for the US to adapt its deterrence strategies. The researchers conducted tabletop exercises to explore different scenarios and found unsettling logics that could compel the use of nuclear weapons. They also highlight the importance of alliance management and the need for the US to engage in discussions with allies like Japan and Australia.

Andrew Metrick is a Fellow with Defense Program at CNAS. His research focuses on the linkages between strategic objectives and operational plans with a specific interest in understanding the implications of protracted, global conflict against peer states. In this capacity, he employs a range of qualitative and quantitative research tools to include operations research, GIS analysis, OSINT collection, and wargaming. Prior to joining CNAS, he was a campaign analyst and wargamer at Northrop Grumman. In this role, he conducted strategic and theater level analysis to quantify munitions, posture, and logistics implications of peer conflict. This analysis and the associated models received multiple awards for innovation. Early in his career, he was an Associate Fellow with the International Security Program at CSIS where he published several studies focused on maritime issues in Asia and Europe. Metrick holds a MA in security studies from Georgetown University and a BA in international affairs from the George Washington University with an academic interest in military innovation theory and technology diffusion. His writing has appeared in Proceedings, War on the Rocks, Defense One, and CIMSEC.

Philip Sheers is a Research Assistant for the Defense Program. His research focuses on escalation management, protracted war, force posture, and nuclear deterrence. Sheers also supports the CNAS Gaming Lab and the CNAS Mission Brief speaker series. Prior to joining CNAS, he worked as a Risk Analyst at IPSOS Public Affairs and served as a Research Assistant to Dr. Alfred Connable. Sheers graduated from Kenyon College with a BA in International Studies and is completing his MA in Security Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he has also contributed to the Georgetown Security Studies Review.

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Professor Fei-Ling Wang tells NucleCast about his new book, 'The China Race: Global Competition for Alternative World Orders.' He argues that the United States and China are engaged in a global competition that goes beyond relative power and influence. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to transform the world order into a hierarchical system with China at the top, while the United States aims to preserve the existing order based on democratic values and the rule of law. Wang emphasizes that the outcome of this competition has high stakes, as losing could result in the withering away of the American way of life and the nationhood and statehood of the US. He also highlights the importance of providing Chinese students with a comprehensive education that includes social sciences, humanities, logic, and history, in order to foster critical thinking and a better understanding of the world.

Fei-Ling “Phil” Wang, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania), Professor at Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology ([email protected]). His research interests are comparative and international political economy, U.S.-East Asian relations, and East Asia and China studies.

Wang has published nine books (two co-edited) in two languages including the latest, The China Race: Global Competition for Alternative World Order (SUNY Press, 2024). He has also published dozens of book chapters and journal articles in four languages, including op-eds in newspapers like The New York Times and Christian Science Monitor.

Wang taught at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) and U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs), and held visiting and adjunct/honorary positions in institutions like European University Institute in Italy, Sciences Po in France, National Sun Yat-sen University and National Taiwan University in Taiwan, National University of Singapore, Renmin University and Anhui Normal University in China, University of Macau, University of Tokyo, and Sungkyunkwan University and Yonsei University in Korea.

Wang has guest-lectured in over 50 universities worldwide and appeared in many national and international news media such as Al Jazeera, AFP, AP, BBC, CNN, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Radio China International, South China Morning Post, VOA, The Wall Street Journal, and the Xinhua News Agency. He has had numerous research grants including a Minerva Chair grant, a Fulbright Senior Scholar grant and a Hitachi Fellowship. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode of NucleCast, Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, talks about the challenges and implications of nuclear modernization. They discuss the growing threats from China, Russia, and other countries, and the need for the United States to rethink its approach to deterrence. They also explore the budget constraints and acquisition processes that impact nuclear modernization efforts. Clark suggests that the Department of Defense should eliminate the joint requirements process and focus on force planning and design. He also calls for a reexamination of the triad recapitalization plan and a renewed emphasis on force design within each service.

Bryan Clark is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson Institute. He studies naval operations, cyber and electromagnetic warfare, autonomous systems, military competitions, and wargaming. From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Clark was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) where he led studies for the DoD Office of Net Assessment, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Defense Advanced Research Products Agency on new technologies and the future of warfare.

Prior to joining CSBA in 2013, Mr. Clark was a career enlisted and officer submariner. His last assignment was as director of the Chief of Naval Operations Commander’s Action Group, where he led development of Navy strategy and implemented new initiatives in electromagnetic spectrum operations, undersea warfare, expeditionary operations, and personnel and readiness management.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:09 Growing Threats and Implications of Nuclear Modernization

09:47 Budget Constraints and Acquisition Challenges

18:56 Rethinking Defense Priorities

27:05 Eliminating Joint Requirements and Focusing on Force Planning

29:06 Rethinking the Triad Recapitalization Plan

32:22 The Importance of Force Design

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Bruce Klingner is a Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and an expert on South Korea and North Korea. He discusses the recent developments in the relationship between the United States and South Korea, including the Washington declaration and the NATO summit. He also explores the topic of South Korea's potential nuclearization and the level of understanding and education on nuclear issues. The conversation touches on the concerns of entanglement and abandonment, the impact of South Korea building its own nuclear arsenal, and the possibility of the return of U.S. nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula. Klingner emphasizes the importance of the U.S. affirming its commitment to its treaty obligations and maintaining current force levels on the peninsula. He also discusses the need for improved relations between South Korea and Japan, greater security cooperation in the region, and South Korea's role in addressing transgressions by China and Russia.

Klingner’s analysis and writing about North Korea, South Korea and Japan, as well as related issues, are informed by his 20 years of service at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Klingner, who joined Heritage in 2007, has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

He is a frequent commentator in U.S. and foreign media. His articles and commentary have appeared in major American and foreign publications and he is a regular guest on broadcast and cable news outlets. He is a regular contributor to the international and security sections of The Daily Signal.

From 1996 to 2001, Klingner was CIA’s Deputy Division Chief for Korea, responsible for the analysis of political, military, economic and leadership issues for the president of the United States and other senior U.S. policymakers. In 1993-1994, he was the chief of CIA’s Korea branch, which analyzed military developments during a nuclear crisis with North Korea.

Klingner is a distinguished graduate of the National War College, where he received a master’s degree in National Security Strategy in 2002. He also holds a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:29 The Growing Discussion on South Korea's Nuclearization

09:13 The Need for Education and Transparency on Nuclear Issues

14:49 Affirming Commitment and Maintaining Force Levels

18:01 Improving Relations with Japan and Increasing Security Cooperation

22:24 South Korea's Role in Addressing Transgressions by China and Russia

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam interviews Pat Rhoads and Dave Jonas, who have been writing a series of articles on nuclear issues. They discuss the strategic environment, the potential for nuclear disarmament, and the challenges of nuclear modernization.

David S. Jonas is a partner at the law firm of Fluet, Huber & Hoang (FH+H). His practice includes corporate transactions, employment law, government contracts, trial and appellate litigation, international law, administrative/regulatory compliance and investigations. He has extensive experience in national security issues and is recognized as one of a handful of experts worldwide in nuclear nonproliferation law. He was a career member of the Senior Executive Service and served as General Counsel of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) where he negotiated numerous multilateral and bilateral international agreements to include the U.S. – India Civil Nuclear Agreement. He also served as General Counsel of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

Prior to his civilian service, he was a career Marine Corps officer where he held a wide variety of command and staff billets. He served as nuclear nonproliferation planner for the Joint Chiefs of Staff negotiating multiple international agreements and has worked extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Conference on Disarmament, and the United Nations. He is one of the only judge advocates to have commanded two units, including a company in an infantry regiment, the 5th Marines. He argued the case of Davis v. United States, 512, U.S. 452 (1994) at the U.S. Supreme Court becoming the first judge advocate in the history of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force to do so. He received the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and was selected as the Outstanding Career Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps. He concluded his military service as a lieutenant colonel.

Patrick Rhoads had a thirty-eight-year career as an engineer with the National Nuclear Security Administration. He started with Naval Reactors as an ensign in the Navy and worked his whole career in the uses of nuclear energy for national security missions. His career included nuclear design, construction, and operations. Late in his NNSA career, he led many nuclear construction activities, including billion-dollar acquisitions, and served as the Chief of Staff in three different organizations. After retiring from NNSA in 2020, he joined the National Strategic Research Institute as the Director of Nuclear Research. NSRI is a University Affiliated Research Center, chartered by STRATCOM, whose mission is to address Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Jonathan Ventura, a career coach at Montana State University, discusses his efforts to bring talented students into the nuclear weapons complex and national security field. He emphasizes the importance of helping students understand the wide range of opportunities available to them, regardless of their academic discipline. Ventura also highlights the need for employers to communicate the importance of their mission and the benefits they offer, such as educational support. He shares the university's initiatives, including career fairs, capstone projects, and networking events, to connect students with potential employers. Ventura also expresses his wishes for increased collaboration between universities and national labs, the continued scientific excellence of the labs, and a good snow season in Montana.

Mr. Ventura's 35-year career in national security has spanned several organizations including: the ANSER Corporation, the Department of Energy, Office of the Deputy Administrator for Weapons, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Office of the Principal Associate Director Weapons Program. At the Department of Energy, he served as the Executive Officer to six Assistant Secretaries handling many of the day-to-day congressional interactions and interagency relationships. While at Los Alamos, he was the director of the Office of Nuclear and Military Affairs which oversaw many of the interactions with the Air Force Missile Wings in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. He also managed Los Alamos’ educational efforts at the Nation’s service academies. He served as editor of the lab’s award-winning national security magazine, National Security Science, which he helped redesign to make it more user friendly.

00:00 Introduction and Background of Jonathan Ventura

01:29 Helping Students Find Meaningful Work in National Security

09:46 Advice for Success in Recruiting and Retaining Talent

14:08 Opportunities for Students Without STEM Degrees

20:07 The Need for a Network of Retired Professionals in Universities

25:39 The Importance of Career Fairs and Early Preparation

29:02 The Scientific Excellence of National Labs

31:33 Jonathan Ventura's Three Wishes

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Dr. Jeremy Prichard, the command historian at 20th Air Force, discusses the history of 20th Air Force, its origins, transition to the ICBM force, and the challenges faced in fielding the ICBMs. He also shares insights on the Minuteman 3 deployment, the Peacekeeper, and the challenges of modernizing the infrastructure for the Sentinel program.

Dr. Jeremy P. Prichard is the Historian for Headquarters Twentieth Air Force, F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. His duties include preserving and documenting the HQ’s historical record. He conducts historical research for the 20 AF commander and staff and advises on diverse historical matters.

Prior to his current position, Dr. Prichard was Historian for the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, performing similar responsibilities as his current role. During that time, he received assignment as Historian for the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan, producing monthly unit histories and offering guidance on standardized unit emblems. Before entering civilian public service, Dr. Prichard served four years in the US Army at Fort Hood, Texas. Following his Army enlistment, he earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate of Philosophy degrees in History from the University of Kansas. His dissertation, “In Lincoln’s Shadow: The Civil War in Springfield, Illinois,” examined the political, economic, and social attitudes of the 16th US President’s community during the Sectional Crisis. Dr. Prichard’s publications focus on 19th Century American and US Air Force history. He has lectured in both military and academic settings on varied historical

Chapters:

00:00 Exploring the History of 20th Air Force and Its Transition to the ICBM Force

19:52 Challenges and Complexities of Fielding the ICBMs

35:29 The Future of 20th Air Force: Insights and Wishes

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Lindell Lucy shares his journey from teaching history in Hawaii to becoming interested in nuclear weapons and international security, particularly in the context of Taiwan's geopolitical situation. He discusses the need for nuclear deterrence and the potential acquisition of nuclear weapons by Taiwan as a means of self-defense against China's coercive actions. Lindell also presents three wishes related to public opinion polling, US presidential debate questions, and NucleCast.

Lindell Lucy is a high school teacher based in Hawaii. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stanford University. He is currently studying international relations in a master's degree program at the Harvard Extension School, where he just completed the coursework for a graduate certificate in nuclear deterrence. He has spent more than a decade living and traveling around East Asia. He has written numerous op-eds calling on the international community to provide uncompromising military and diplomatic support for Taiwan.

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]