Contributors

Dr. Natasha Bajema has built a 20-year career in national security with a specialized focus on reducing the risks of nuclear weapons, biological weapons, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Natasha is the CEO and Founder, Nuclear Spin Cycle, LLC, an innovative startup which produces creative content with national security impact. She is also currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic Risks and an NSquare Fellow. From 2008 to 2019, Natasha spent more than ten years at the National Defense University where she taught an elective course on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that examines the development of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons through documentaries, TV, and film. At NDU, she also led a multi-year initiative exploring the impact of emerging technologies on WMD. From 2010 to 2013, Natasha held a long-term detail assignment serving in various capacities in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics, Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs and in Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. Natasha has also completed stints at the Center on International Cooperation at New York University and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations. Natasha is the author of three published science fiction mystery novels in the Lara Kingsley Series and the host of the Authors of Mass Destruction podcast. She holds an M.A. in international policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Dr. Tara Drozdenko is the director for the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists working on the federal-level policy changes and commitment to diplomacy, so the United States is a leader in reducing the nuclear threat. She earned a Ph.D. in plasma physics and has worked for the U.S. Navy on issues related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and for the U.S. State Department on Nonproliferation and Arms Control issues.

Anne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University in Wales, UK. Since earning her PhD from the University of Chicago in 2010, she has held academic fellowships at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Relations at Monterey, and the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zürich. In 2013-2014, she worked for the US Congress as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow, first as a National Security Fellow in the office of Senator Kirstin Gillibrand (D-NY) and then at the Congressional Research Service. Her research interests, located at the nexus of international relations and science and technology studies, include nuclear deterrence, disarmament and nonproliferation, cybersecurity, the evolution of military strategy and tactics, and women in combat. Learn more about Anne by watching her introduction video: https://youtu.be/DblWo1ywa7E

My name is Tegan Harrison. I am a PhD researcher at Cardiff University, based in the School of Law and Politics. My research looks at the securitization of outer space through the case of the UN agenda item, ‘the prevention of an arms race in outer space’ (PAROS). In this context, the project focuses on the framing of security since the 1980s and across various PAROS initiatives. My research interests also include the intersection of space and nuclear security issues, specifically, missile defence in the context of arms race dynamics and the use of satellites for arms control verification and monitoring. In addition, I work as a PGR tutor and take regular undergraduate seminars. This has been a brilliant opportunity and I would highly recommend it to any prospective PGRs!

Doreen Horschig is an associate fellow with the Project on Nuclear Issues at the Center for the Strategic and International Studies (CSIS PONI). She is also a non-resident research associate at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Previously, Doreen was a nuclear security policy fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Stanton nuclear security fellow at MIT. Her research is twofold and examines nuclear norms contestation and counterproliferation. Doreen holds a PhD in security studies from UCF, a MA in international relations from New York University, and a BA in international studies from Manhattan College.

B.A. 1996, Physics, University of Chicago. M.A. 1999, Energy and Resources, University of California at Berkeley. M.A. 2003, Sociology, Stanford University. Ph.D. 2006, Political Science, Stanford University. Reed College 2006–. Alexander H. Montgomery has published articles on theorizing and dismantling proliferation networks; the perils of predicting proliferation, intelligence, and the future of security studies; and on the effects of social networks of international organizations on power, interstate conflict, and economic sanctions. He is also co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Political Networks. His research interests include political organizations, social networks, weapons of mass disruption and destruction, social studies of technology, and interstate social relations. Most recently, he has been a Residential Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; prior to that he was a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Nuclear Security with a placement in the US Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy) working for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. His portfolio included writing a new Department of Defense Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Alan Owen is a descendant of Nuclear Veteran (James Ronald Owen) who participated in Operation Dominic in 1962 at Christmas Island. Alan was previously the Chairman of the BNTVA and founded LABRATS in 2020. (www.labrats.international). Alan has a team of experts who can help you understand the nuclear testing program.

Kelley Ragusa works with The Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives (NSSPI) which is a multidisciplinary organization at Texas A&M University and the first U.S. academic institution focused on technical graduate education, research, and service related to the safeguarding of nuclear materials and the reduction of nuclear threats. Her work includes various tasks however she is the developer of courses for the Nuclear Security and Safeguards Education Portal (NSSEP) which can be found on their website as well as on the Highly Nriched site!

Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of York.Nick Richie mainly researches and teaches on issues surrounding nuclear weapons, disarmament, arms control , and UK, US foreign policy as well as International relations.

Sarah uses she/ her pronounces and is a master student currently studying Queer theory. The broader title of the academic track is known as Women, Gender and Sexuality studies. Sarah shares her insights on the topics that interest her in the field as well as her work on the project of ' I am a nuclear bombshell'. The storyline behind I am a Nuclear bombshell is sexualising nuclear weapons in a way that is empowering.

Alex Warnes is a software developer for Secureworks. He previously worked in the Defense Intelligence Agency before diversifying into software development. Alex Warnes has created his own Enrichment Calculator by combining his knowledge of the Nuclear science and computer engineering.

Anna Weichselbraun is an anthropologist who has completed research in the nuclear safeguards regime. Developing an understanding and explaining the role of nuclear inspectors.