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Strategic deterrence & nuclear programs

Research, wargaming & tools

The world has entered a new multi-polar environment. 

To successfully manage the implications of 21st-century rivalry with nuclear-armed great powers, both strategic insight and deep operational understanding are required. World-class research that undergirds both ironclad strategic deterrence in peacetime and decisive victory should rivalry erupt into conflict is critical.

The National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command, proudly supports the Nation in this effort. With partners across the University of Nebraska System, our contributions help:

  • Strengthen U.S. strategic deterrence.
  • Advance thought on the U.S. nuclear posture, especially regarding limited nuclear conflict.
  • Mitigate the effects of foreign nuclear capabilities and intentions.

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Deep Expertise

Deterrence

NSRI has delivered important contributions to military and civilian leaders working toward strategic deterrence. Our efforts include:

  • Nuclear education
  • Escalation dynamics research
  • Tabletop exercises
  • Decision support tools
  • High-performance materials research
  • Advanced manufacturing of components
  • Conceptual nuclear weapon design
  • Survivability of forces
  • NC3 research
  • Electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) research
  • Deterrence policy requirements

Defense

NSRI helps to strengthen nuclear security by conducting research for U.S. government agencies in the areas of:

  • Weapon and material security
  • Proliferation technology detection
  • Nuclear nonproliferation

Additional research in the area of nuclear counterterrorism includes:

  • Detection of special nuclear material
  • Radiological material characterization
  • Rapidly deployable nuclear sensors
  • Hazard modeling research
  • Medical countermeasure research in cases of radiological exposure

Diplomacy

Arms control remains an essential tool for the U.S. to reduce nuclear risks to itself and its allies and partners.

To support its customers and sponsors, NSRI and the University of Nebraska research diplomatic and foreign engagement options in all areas of nuclear arms control, nonproliferation and verification.

Leading Capabilities

NSRI, with research faculty across the University of Nebraska System, supports the top national priority of strategic deterrence and risk reduction across a range of research areas.

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Academic Wargaming Center

  • Academic-focused exploration of wargaming as a learning tool
  • Participants can test theories about complex, real world problems
  • Enables creativity with no pre-defined, “textbook” solutions
  • Failure is allowed (and encouraged) to gain insights
  • Provides an experiential leadership and group dynamics laboratory
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Arms Control and Nonproliferation

  • Treaty monitoring technology R&D
  • Arms control policy research
  • Nonproliferation threat analysis
  • Nuclear nonproliferation detection R&D
  • Treaty break-away potential
  • Relevant net assessments to support future diplomatic efforts
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Weapons Policy

  • Foreign threat analysis
  • Deterrence, assurance requirements
  • Conceptual weapon design
  • Strategic materials production
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Consequence Management

  • Precision nuclear forensics
  • Nuclear detection technologies
  • Hazard modeling
  • Disaster mitigation research
  • Radiological decontamination and medical countermeasures
eMSO

Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO)

Operational risk analysis

Spectrum management research

Cognitive EMSO efforts

Assessment of EMSO on deterrence

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Enterprise Support Technologies

  • NC3 technology R&D
  • NC3 concepts and architecture
  • High-performance non-nuclear materials research
  • Non-nuclear component advanced manufacturing research
  • Nuclear security, certification research

Conflict Deterrence and Escalation Dynamics

  • Table top exercises
  • Nuclear conflict wargames
  • Escalation dynamics model development
  • Decision support tools
  • Nuclear deterrence education
  • Operational, tactical planning support
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Featured Work

NSRI researchers work across a broad range of activities to support agencies across the DOW and federal government. The following are examples of our work.

Leading for JEMSO

In July 2023, USSTRATCOM stood up the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) Operations Center (JEC). With several EMS subject matter experts on staff, NSRI was ready to investigate technical issues for EMS dominance, launching research and development of innovative enabling technologies and support for coordinated adaptations to tactics, techniques and procedures in EMS operations. The institute delivered the initial results of this work and is seeking to expand its footprint in this vital mission by collaborating across the DOW.

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Limited Nuclear Conflict Wargame

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) awarded NSRI a $25 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract in 2021. Since then NSRI has delivered an elucidating analytical effort on historic approaches to warhead design among the U.S., Russia and China and executed an initial round of strategic escalation wargames for NNSA leaders at the agency’s headquarters. 

NSRI’s warhead design study and limited nuclear conflict wargame provide strategic support to mission-oriented educational objectives and future NNSA strategic decisions regarding nuclear weapons policy and acquisition, important particularly as the U.S. faces an emerging requirement to build out a suitable theater nuclear force. These efforts will continue as NSRI upgrades the wargame software and prepares to execute several wargames in 2025.

Strategic Dialogues

NSRI is supporting a Defense Threat Reduction Agency initiative to deliberate on the fundamental assurance requirements of Allies and extended deterrence. NSRI personnel led thought leaders and policy experts from Australia, Japan and South Korea through a strategic escalation wargame and workshop in 2025. They will capture, analyze and synthesize these Allied perspectives regarding what is needed to assure them and to extend deterrence to U.S. Indo-Pacific Allies and partners.

Time-Sensitive Research For Future Arms Control

Through a series of research efforts and strategic intelligence projects, NSRI recently brought to bear expertise from the University of Nebraska, U.S. academia and the wider nonprofit and NGO community to provide the U.S. Department of State with extremely time-sensitive research on future arms control options: treaty architectures, core principles, national security implications, new technologies supporting treaty verification and foreign nuclear threat and treaty compliance assessments.

Team Leaders

Name

Adam Carlstrom

Adam Carlstrom, MBA

Associate Executive Director

In his role, Carlstrom represents NSRI and NU with U.S. Strategic Command, the sponsor of NSRI’s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) status. This status is designated by the U.S. Department of War to only 15 total institutions of higher education in the country.
Headshot of Allen Geist, NSRI research director for JEMSO

Allen Geist, MAS

Research Director

Geist’s unique experiences at the tactical, operational, strategic levels provides a critical perspective that can enable a synchronization of the efforts and resources required for USSTRATCOM to further its EMSO role.
Patrick Rhoads

Patrick Rhoads, MS

Research Director

Rhoads helps direct NSRI's nuclear enterprise support program, which serves the complementary needs of USSTRATCOM’s federal partners in managing the nation’s nuclear deterrent. These partners include but are not limited to the Department of State, other organizations within the Department of War, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

Connect With NSRI

As the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designated by the U.S. Department of War, sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command and affiliated with the University of Nebraska System, the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) delivers solutions for strategic deterrence and CWMD mission requirements. Our rapid-response capabilities and efficient contracting vehicle can help federal government program managers meet critical research and development needs. Connect with us to learn more.

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