2008 Conference Summary

The second annual Conference on Strategic Weapons in the 21st Century (SW21), co-sponsored by Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, occurred January 31, 2008, at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC. Dr. Michael Anastasio, Director of LANL, and Dr. George Miller, Director of LLNL, made the welcoming remarks.

(L-R) Thomas D’Agostino, Eric Edelman, and Michael R. Anastasio

Invitees included experts, policymakers, and representatives from

• US Strategic Command,
• US Department of Defense,
• US Department of Energy,
• US Department of State,
• National Nuclear Security Administration,
• Sandia National Laboratories,
• United Kingdom Ministry of Defense,
• Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique,
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
• National Defense University, and
• Congressional staff.

This second meeting focused on gaining insight into the future US strategic weapons posture and the role of deterrence in a changed world. Topics included strategic capabilities with an emphasis on assurance, dissuasion, and deterrence; the role of deterrence in the world; proliferation dynamics between nuclear and nonnuclear states; and understanding divergent views on US nuclear policy.

(L-R) Michael R. Anastasio, Dr. George Miller, and General Kevin P. Chilton

Thomas D’Agostino, Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, gave the opening address. He focused on NNSA’s vision for the future national security enterprise and how this vision will support strategic weapons in the 21st century. Click here to read the Opening Address (pdf).

The Honorable Eric Edelman, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, US Department of Defense, also provided opening remarks with emphasis on the need for the Reliable Replacement Warhead.

General Kevin P. Chilton, Commander, US Strategic Command was the keynote speaker. General Chilton spoke of the need to invest in the requisite infrastructure and human capital to support and maintain our nuclear weapons. Click here to read the Keynote Speech (pdf).

Dr. William J. Perry

Dr. William J. Perry, the distinguished luncheon speaker, addressed nuclear nonproliferation. Dr. Perry discussed the role nonproliferation played during his tenure from 1994–1997 as the 19th Secretary of Defense in the Clinton Administration.

The 2009 Conference on Strategic Weapons in the 21st Century is slated for January 29, 2009, at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.