NucleCast News - Week of October 1, 2024
Episodes You Don’t Want to Miss
On NucleCast
The official podcast of the ANWA Deterrence Center
ANWA DC reviews through our public Forums, educational podcasts, and more intimate Roundtables, the benefits of a modern strategic nuclear deterrent
Nuclear Propulsion, Merging Energetics, and Additive Manufacturing
Captain (Ret.) Brad Baker
Captain Retired Brad Baker discusses the development of the nuclear engineering program at the U.S. Naval Academy and the recruitment of nuclear propulsion officers. He emphasizes the importance of technical training and the opportunities available in the Navy for those with a nuclear engineering background. Brad also talks about the additive manufacturing program at the Naval Academy and its significance for the Navy. He envisions the merging of energetics and additive manufacturing, as well as the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in additive manufacturing and highlights the need for advancements in the qualification of additive manufacturing parts.
Proudly starting his military career as an enlisted Sailor, Dr. Brad Baker completed a distinguished 36-year career in the Navy retiring as a Captain with degrees in Marine Engineering, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He served in a variety of leadership positions in submarines followed by over 10 years as a Permanent Military Professor at the United States Naval Academy where he was one of few military members promoted to Associate Professor. A strong advocate for the Naval Academy and education, he has the longest tenure as chairman of the Naval Academy’s Admission Board serving in that capacity for 7 years.
He has received multiple award recognitions including teaching awards, selection as one of the 20 most influential academics in smart manufacturing in 2021, the first ever education and workforce development award by America Makes in 2024, and other awards. Following his retirement from the military, he became Principal Engineer for Energetics Technology Center bringing his leadership and technical expertise to expand the engineering analysis and strategic policy around energetic materials and advanced manufacturing. His technical areas of expertise include materials science, nuclear engineering, microscopy, and additive manufacturing.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:27 Establishing the Nuclear Engineering Program at the Naval Academy
05:52 Recruiting Nuclear Propulsion Officers
10:11 The Significance of Additive Manufacturing at the Naval Academy
17:29 Merging Energetics and Additive Manufacturing
20:39 Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Additive Manufacturing
29:16 Advancements in Qualification of Additive Manufacturing Parts
The Need for Dynamic Parity
Dr. Adam Lowther
Dr. Adam Lowther joins guest host, Jim Howe, to discuss the current state of America's nuclear deterrent and proposes a new approach called Dynamic Parity. He explains that Dynamic Parity aims to create a balance of nuclear capability between the US and autocratic regimes, prevent superiority of adversaries, enhance extended deterrence, and manage the growth or decline of nuclear weapons. Lowther emphasizes the importance of transparency and clear communication to avoid ambiguity and misinterpretation. He also offers recommendations, including the need for a national debate on defense spending, prioritizing nuclear capabilities, and adhering to the Weinberger Doctrine before using force.
Dr. Adam Lowther is the host of NucleCast, the official podcast of the ANWA Deterrence Center, and Vice President for Research at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies. Previously, Dr. Lowther served as the Director of Strategic Deterrence Programs at the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, U.S. Strategic Command's University Affiliated Research Center. Prior to joining NSRI, Dr. Lowther served as the first director of the department of multi-domain operations (MDO) at the Army Management Staff College (AMSC), was a professor at the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies, founding director of the School of Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies, Kirtland AFB and director of the Center for Academic and Professional Journals at the Air Force Research Institute (AFRI), Maxwell AFB.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:31 Current State of American Nuclear Deterrent
05:09 The Changing Geopolitical Landscape
12:14 Introducing Dynamic Parity
20:20 Importance of Transparency and Clear Communication
22:44 Recommendations for a Stronger Nuclear Deterrent
28:39 Three Wishes for the Topic
领英推荐
32:06 Conclusion
Read Article Here:
China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, A Dangerous Alliance
Richard Fisher
In this episode of NucleCast, Rick Fisher, Senior Fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, talks about the current state of North Korea's nuclear program. Fisher predicts that by the mid-2030s, North Korea will have the ability to conduct a catastrophic first strike against the United States. He credits the work of other experts in the field and discusses the development of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and multiple independently targetable warheads (MIRVs). Fisher also highlights the close relationship between China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran in their pursuit of global hegemony and the need for the United States to strengthen its nuclear deterrent capabilities and missile defense systems.
Mr. Richard D. Fisher, Jr. is a Senior Fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center. In 2024 he joined the Advisory Board of the Free Press Foundation and in 2016 he joined the Advisory Board of the Global Taiwan Institute and is a columnist for the Taipei Times.
He previously worked with the Center for Security Policy, Jamestown Foundation China Brief, U.S. House of Representatives Republican Policy Committee, and The Heritage Foundation. He is the author of China’s Military Modernization, Building for Regional and Global Reach (Praeger, 2008, Stanford University Press, 2010, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense translation 2012) Since 1996 he has covered scores of international arms exhibits and his articles have been published in the Jane’s Intelligence Review, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Aviation Week and Space Technology, Armed Forces Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review, Asian Wall Street Journal, Defense News, The Epoch Times and The Washington Times. He has studied at Georgetown University and received a B.A. (Honors) in 1981 from Eisenhower College.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:02 North Korea's Growing Nuclear Threat
06:38 North Korea's Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
08:06 Possible Collaboration with Pakistan on MIRV Capabilities
11:16 The Relationship Between North Korea and Russia
18:55 The Dangerous Alliance of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran
25:56 The Need to Strengthen the United States' Nuclear Deterrent
32:22 Wishes for the Future
36:51 Conclusion
Want to Learn More?
Did you know that the Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence Center (ANWA DC), a 501(c)3, educates key decision makers, stakeholders and the public to ensure a broader understanding of the Nation’s strategic nuclear deterrent and its ongoing modernization across the United States. Established in August 2017, ANWA DC reviews through our public Forums, educational podcasts, and more intimate Roundtables the benefits of a modern strategic nuclear deterrent. If you want to learn more about how your organization can get involved, please reach out to us. ?We would love to hear from you.
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Thank you again for being a part of the ANWA Deterrence Center family. ?
Best Regards,
David Cherington - Founder and Managing Director, ANWA Deterrence Center
Jeff Crater - Founder and Managing Director, ANWA Deterrence Center
Adam Lowther - Host of NucleCast, Strategic Advisor to ANWA Deterrence Center
Kimberly Cherington - Program Manager, ANWA Deterrence Center, Producer of NucleCast