NucleCast

In this episode of Nuclecast, Adam Lowther interviews Kim Budil, Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). They discuss various topics related to LLNL's work in nuclear weapons design and modernization. The conversation covers the achievement of ignition, the recruitment and retention of talent, the role of the National Ignition Facility, workforce challenges, modernization and manufacturing efforts, safety and security of warheads, other programs at LLNL, integrated deterrence and multi-domain operations, knowledge transfer and training, and Budil's wishes for the lab. Budil highlights the importance of LLNL's work in national security and the exciting opportunities it offers for aspiring scientists and engineers.

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This is a rereleased episode from October 26, 2023.

Rebecca Grant is a national security analyst based in Washington, DC and president of IRIS Independent Research, a small, woman-owned business specializing in defense and aerospace research and national security consulting. She has appeared on TV as an expert on national security for Fox News, Fox Business, and CNN. She is a series regular on The Smithsonian Channel’s Air Warriors. Dr. Grant writes on China, Russia and other national security topics for Fox News Opinion. Her military books include 75 Great Airmen (with Lt. Gen. Chris Miller), The B-2 Goes to War, and Battle-Tested: Aircraft Carriers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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This is a rereleased episode from September 5th, 2023.

Thomas (Thom) Mason is the President and CEO of Triad National Security, LLC (Triad) and serves as the Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Most recently he was the Senior Vice President for Global Laboratory Operations at Battelle where he had responsibility for governance and strategy across the six National Laboratories that Battelle manages or co-manages.

Prior to joining Battelle, Thom worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for 19 years, including 10 years as the Laboratory Director. Under his leadership, ORNL saw significant growth in programs, new facilities, and hiring while achieving record low safety incident rates.

Before becoming Laboratory Director, he was Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) for Neutron Sciences, ALD for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), and Director of the Experimental Facilities Division.

During his time in Oak Ridge, Thom was active in the community serving as Chair of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation as well as Innovation Valley, the Knoxville-Oak Ridge area regional economic development organization. He moved to ORNL from the University of Toronto where he was a faculty member in the Department of Physics and previously worked as a Senior Scientist at Risø National Laboratory and a Postdoc at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

For the past 30 years, he has been involved in the design and construction of scientific instrumentation and facilities and the application of nuclear, computing, and materials sciences to solve important challenges in energy and national security.

Thom has a Ph.D. in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics from McMaster University and a BSc in Physics from Dalhousie University.

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This episode is a look back to December of 2022 with a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas". with Adam and Bob, the Genie. ANWA DC and NucleCast wish you a happy holiday season. "Twas the Night Before Christmas” was first published in 1823 in the Troy Sentinel newspaper with the name, “Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas."

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In this episode of NucleCast, Adam Lowther interviews James Kraska, an expert in international maritime law, about the role of international law in shaping conflict. They discuss the history and impact of international law, its strengths and weaknesses, and its relevance in preventing conflict. They also examine the failures of international law in the cases of Ukraine and Taiwan, and the challenges posed by countries like Russia and China. The importance of international law in the South China Sea dispute is highlighted, as well as the role of self-help and collective action in upholding international law. The episode concludes with a discussion on the need for investment in emerging technologies and the importance of economic policy in supporting international law.

Takeaways

• International law is the language of diplomacy and underpins the sovereign state system.
• International law provides a common rule book and has a normative influence on states.
• The weaknesses of international law include the lack of a lawmaking body, executive enforcement, and an effective international court system.
• International law has failed in preventing conflicts in cases like Ukraine and Taiwan.
• International law is relevant in preventing conflict and maintaining global stability.
• The South China Sea dispute highlights the importance of international law.
• Self-help and collective action are necessary to enforce international law.
• Allies play a crucial role in upholding international law.
• Investment in emerging technologies and economic policy are essential to support international law.

James Kraska Bio

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With a decade of experience in the aerospace industry, Tyler currently serves as a Future Systems Integration Engineer at the ARES Corporation, dedicated to supporting NASA's Future Systems Project Office at the Kennedy Space Center. His journey began with his role as a 2M0X2 in the United States Air Force maintaining the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) from 2014-2023.

Tyler was stationed at F.E. Warren AFB and Vandenberg AFB and worked numerous roles within the 2M0X2 community including Missile Maintenance Team Topside Technician, charged with the safe transportation and maintenance of the Minuteman III Aerospace Vehicle Equipment (AVE) for 150 Launch Facilities spread out between Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. Maintenance Operations Center Controller and Missile Maintenance Quality Assurance. Culminating in his final role within the Air Force as a Minuteman III Technical Training Instructor.

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Dr. Zachary S. Davis is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a Research Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he teaches courses on counterproliferation. He has broad experience in intelligence and national security policy and has held senior positions in the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. His regional focus is South Asia.

Davis began his career at the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress and has served with the State Department, Congressional committees, and the National Security Council. Davis was group leader for proliferation networks in LLNL’s Z Program and in 2007 he was Senior Advisor at the National Counter Proliferation Center, in the office of the Director of National Intelligence. He is the author of numerous government studies and reports on technical and regional proliferation issues. He leads a project on the national security implications of advanced technologies, focusing on special operations forces.

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Alan B. Carr currently serves as a Program Manager and the Senior Historian for Los Alamos National Laboratory. During his tenure as a Laboratory historian, which began in 2003, Alan has produced several publications and lectures pertaining to the Manhattan Project, nuclear testing history, and the historical evolution of LANL. He has lectured for numerous professional organizations and has been featured as a guest on many local, national, and international radio and television programs. Before coming to Los Alamos, Carr completed his graduate studies at Texas Tech University.

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Alan B. Carr currently serves as a Program Manager and the Senior Historian for Los Alamos National Laboratory. During his tenure as a Laboratory historian, which began in 2003, Alan has produced several publications and lectures pertaining to the Manhattan Project, nuclear testing history, and the historical evolution of LANL. He has lectured for numerous professional organizations and has been featured as a guest on many local, national, and international radio and television programs. Before coming to Los Alamos, Carr completed his graduate studies at Texas Tech University.

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Mr. Curtis Buckles is the Navy’s Strategic Deterrence Policy Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations, Strategy and Policy) (N3N5). His responsibilities include providing Navy strategy and policy guidance on strategic and integrated deterrence, countering of weapons of mass destruction policy, nuclear weapons programs, stockpiles, deployments, employment policy, safety, security, survivability, nuclear command & control, and international arms control treaties to the N3N5 and Chief of Naval Operations. Additionally, Mr. Buckles is the CNO’s Navy action officer for the DoD/DOE Nuclear Weapons Council.

Mr. Buckles joined the Navy staff in 2005 and has extensive experience in nuclear weapons operations, policy, strategy, and management. Mr. Buckles retired from the United States Air Force in 2005 after 24 years of service that included positions as the ICBM Nuclear Policy Advisor to the Joint Staff J5 Director of Strategy and Policy, assignments as an ICBM launch officer, Command Instructor, maintenance officer, and the command lead project officer for the Minuteman III Guidance Replacement Program and the guidance applications programs. Additionally, Mr. Buckles’ Air Force career includes experience as the Director of Operations for the combined U.S. Air Force - Australian Defence Forces Joint Defence Facility Nurrungar Defense Support Program facility at Woomera, South Australia and as the Deputy Division Chief for Air Force Requirements Development in HQ USAF.

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