Skip to main content
National Strategic Research Institute Logo

Strategic deterrence & nuclear programs

Research, wargaming & tools

Thinking Through The Unthinkable

The world has entered a new multi-polar environment. This requires both strategic insight and deep operational understanding to successfully manage the implications of 21st-century rivalry with nuclear-armed great powers. It also requires world-class research that undergirds both ironclad strategic deterrence in peacetime and decisive victory should rivalry erupt into conflict.

The National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) and the University of Nebraska System are proud partners in these efforts. We aim to help:

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

Video Modal

Explore Full Research Portfolio
Connect with NSRI

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

Though the geopolitical environment for diplomacy has been unfavorable recently, arms control remains an essential tool for the U.S. to reduce nuclear risks to itself and its allies and partners.

To support our 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 at the University of Nebraska, supports the top national priority of strategic deterrence and risk reduction across a range of research areas.

chess illustration

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
illustration

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
illustration

Weapons Policy

  • Foreign threat analysis
  • Deterrence, assurance requirements
  • Conceptual weapon design
  • Strategic materials production
explosion and cloud

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

illustration

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
Download our capabilities handout

Papers

Related News

Featured Work

NSRI researchers work across a broad range of activities to support agencies across the DOD and federal government. Here are just two recent 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. In January 2024, the institute launched 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 DOD.

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 will lead thought leaders and policy experts from Australia, Japan and South Korea through a strategic escalation wargame and workshop in early 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

Chris Yeaw

Christopher Yeaw, Ph.D.

Associate Executive Director

Dr. Yeaw guides NSRI researchers, senior consultants and fellows to deliver problem-based solutions across the institute's growing research portfolio.
Adam Carlstrom

Adam Carlstrom, MBA

Research Director

In his role, Carlstrom represents NSRI and NU with U.S. Strategic Command, the sponsor of NSRI’s University Affiliated Research Center status. This status is designated by the Department of Defense to only 14 total institutions of higher education in the country.
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 Defense, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Thomas DiNanno headshot

Thomas DiNanno, MS, MA

Director

DiNanno leads the NSRI team in designing, developing and executing world-class wargames. He also directs NSRI's strategic resiliency portfolio to explore how best to respond to strategic escalation and manage the consequences of strategic attacks against the U.S. homeland.
Allen Geist

Allen Geist, MAS

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.

Connect With NSRI

As the DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) of U.S. Strategic Command and the University of Nebraska System, the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) delivers solutions for strategic deterrence and CWMD mission requirements gaps. 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.

Get Started

COOKIE USAGE:

The University of Nebraska System uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By clicking "I Agree" and/or continuing to use this website without adjusting your browser settings, you accept the use of cookies.

PRIVACY SETTINGS