CNS Founding Director
[email protected]
Monterey, CA
831.647.3511
Activities
- Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar Professor
of Nonproliferation Studies - Founding Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS)
- Member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Areas of Research
- Nuclear terrorism
- Forecasting proliferation developments
- US-Russian relations
- NPT review process
- NAM nuclear politics
Background
Dr. William Potter has served as a consultant to the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the RAND Corporation, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
He has been a member of several committees of the National Academy of Sciences, including its Nonproliferation Panel.
He served for five years on the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and the Board of Trustees of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research.
He has participated as a delegate at every NPT Review Conference and Preparatory Committee meeting since 1995.
CNS Work
- Can Shared US–Russian Interests Lead to Joint Action?
William C. Potter and Anton Khlopkov in Kommersant. - CNS Director’s Statement on January 6th Events
We must not be complacent in the face of existential threats of which, regrettably, the number is growing. - Happy Holidays and Happy New Year (2020)
My CNS colleagues and I wish you a peaceful and joyous New Year. - Death Dust
The little-known story of US and Soviet pursuit of radiological weapons. - Putin’s Novel Delivery Systems
WEBINAR: Analyzing Russian military innovation. - The CTBT and the 10th NPT Review Conference
WEBINAR: Challenges facing the treaties and the potential to strengthen both at the 10th NPT Review Conference. - Nonproliferation Trends. What’s News, What’s True?
A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Can this basic principle find support? - It’s Time to Rethink Our Russia Policy
America’s mix of sanctions and diplomacy isn’t working. An open letter reconsiders our approach to Putin—and whoever is next. - In Remembrance of Bruce Blair
The international peace and security field lost one of its most distinguished members this week. - From a Novel Idea to a World-Class Center
Dr. Bill Potter discusses the founding of CNS.
Bibliography
Books
- End of an Era: The United States, Russia, and Nuclear Nonproliferation (2021), co-authored with Sarah Bidgood
- Nuclear Politics and the Non-Aligned Movement (2012)
- The Four Faces of Nuclear Terrorism (2005)
- Tactical Nuclear Weapons: Options for Control (2000)
- Nuclear Profiles of the Soviet Successor States (1993)
- Soviet Decisionmaking for Chernobyl: An Analysis of System Performance and Policy Change (1990)
- Nuclear Power and Nonproliferation: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (1982)
Editor
- Verification and SALT: The Challenge of Strategic Deception (1980)
- Verification and Arms Control (1985), and International Nuclear Trade and Nonproliferation (1990)
Co-Editor
- Once and Future Partners: The United States, Russia, and Nuclear Non-proliferation (2018)
- Preventing Black-Market Trade in Nuclear Technology (2018)
- Forecasting Nuclear Nonproliferation in the 21st Century (2 volumes, 2010)
- Engaging China and Russia on Nuclear Disarmament (2009)
- The Global Politics of Combating Nuclear Terrorism: A Supply Side Approach (2009)
- Dangerous Weapons, Desperate States (1999)
- Dismantling the Cold War: U.S. and NIS Perspectives on the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (1997)
- Soviet Decisionmaking for National Security (1984)
- The Nuclear Suppliers and Nonproliferation (1985
- Continuity and Change in Soviet-East European Relations (1989)
- International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers’ Network (1994)
Dr. Potter has contributed chapters and articles to over 130 scholarly books and journals.
