Held virtually with colleagues from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, this conference will feature two days of presentations from rising experts covering topics such as nuclear modernization policy and strategies, arms control, proliferation challenges, and deterrence. On day three, participants will have the unique opportunity to participate in an online wargame responding to escalation, created and facilitated by PONI. All participants must pre-register to attend. The PONI Conference Series is unique in its emphasis on incorporating rising experts and young professionals in the nuclear field. The Conference Series draws emerging thought leaders from across the nuclear enterprise and policy community and provides them with a visible platform for sharing their new thinking on a range of nuclear issues. All comments made at the conference are off-the-record. 2020 PONI VIRTUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE DRAFT AGENDA LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY June 22-24, 2020 Zoom Details Forthcoming, All Times EST Day One: Monday, June 22 2:15 CONFERENCE WELCOME Rebecca Hersman, Director, Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies 2:30 OPENING REMARKS Dr. Brad Roberts, Director of the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California 2:45 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Honorable Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Undersecretary for Nuclear Security, Department of Energy and Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration 3:00 PANEL 1: ARMS CONTROL ACROSS THE POND(S) Panel Moderator: Zachary Davis, CGSR Fellow The TPNW’s Impact on Norm Dynamics in Multilateral Disarmament Jannis Kappelmann, Carlo Schmid Fellow, World Food Program China and U.S. Allies in a Post-INF Pacific Kirk Lancaster, Research Associate, Council on Foreign Relations French Nuclear Weapons and the EU: The Undoing of NATO? Rachel Carre, Brigham Young University The Future of US Ballistic Missile Defense Strategy Against China Ryan Cheney, Brigham Young University 4:30 CAREER MENTORING HAPPY HOUR An informal conversation on career trajectories with PONI Mid-Career Cadre Members and PONI alumni working in different sectors Day Two: Tuesday, June 23 1:00 PANEL 2: TWO STEPS AHEAD, ONE STEP BACK: MODERN CHALLENGES OF TECHNOLOGY Panel Moderator: Anna Peczeli, LLNL CGSR Post-Doctoral Fellow The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Data and Virtual Reality Simulations Shahrukh Nasim, Project Manager, Department of Energy Under the Nuclear Shadow: Situational Awareness Technology and Crisis Decisionmaking Reja Younis, Program Manager and Research Associate, Project on Nuclear Issues Social Media and Strategic Nuclear Weapons: The Russian Case Trisha Wyman, Naval Postgraduate School, LLNL 2:30 BREAK 2:45 PANEL 3: NUCLEAR DETERRENCE TODAY Panel Moderator: Dr. Damon Coletta, Co-Editor Space and Defense Journal The Impact of Left-of-Launch (LOL) Missile Defeat on Nuclear Deterrence and Brinksmanship Benjamin Bahney and Braden Soper, LLNL CGSR Madman Diplomacy and Deterrence Failure Henry Gilchrist, US Air Force Academy Special Operations Forces and Deterrence Major Jonathan Fagins, U.S. Army Special Forces Officer, LLNL 4:15 CLOSING REMARKS Eric Brewer, Deputy Director Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Fellow, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies 4:30 END OF DAY TWO Day Three: Wednesday, June 24 1:00 “ON THE NUCLEAR BRINK” WARGAME A simulation responding to escalation created and facilitated by PONI 2:30 WARGAME DEBRIEF 3:00 END OF DAY THREE