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Strategic deterrence & nuclear programs

Research, wargaming & tools

Thinking through the unthinkable

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

The National Strategic Research Institute and the University of Nebraska are proud partners in these efforts. Our institute aims to help:

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

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Innovative Capabilities

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, is poised to support the top national priority of strategic deterrence and risk reduction through 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 Nonpoliferation

  • 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 DOD and federal government. Here are just two recent examples of our work.

Limited nuclear conflict wargame

NSRI developed a series of novel tabletop wargames for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to help military leaders and decision makers explore nuclear escalation dynamics in the context of limited nuclear conflict. A “limited nuclear conflict” is the detonation of low-yield, non-strategic nuclear weapons in a tactical battle. The wargame illustrates how events along the Russian-Ukrainian border could unwittingly escalate into a limited nuclear conflict between Russia and the U.S. The wargame is available for leaders across the DOD and USG, provided by NSRI either in person or virtually. Inquire >

Time-sensitive research on future arms control options 

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.

Papers

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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

Director

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.
Adam Lowther

Adam Lowther, Ph.D.

Director

In his role, Dr. Lowther brings forward deep expertise in nuclear deterrence, multi-domain operations and the nuclear programs of Russia and China to catalyze, execute and convene projects that support USSTRATCOM's No. 1 mission — strategic deterrence.

Work With NSRI

As USSTRATCOM’s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska provides an invaluable understanding of strategic deterrence and CWMD mission requirements gaps. Our institute’s rapid-response capabilities can help meet critical research and development needs. Connect with us to learn more.

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