Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction

CSWMD provides expertise on the full range of issues related to WMD and their potential use, from strategic deterrence to countering WMD activities.

 
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The INSS Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CSWMD) provides expertise on the full range of issues related to WMD and their potential use, from strategic deterrence to countering WMD activities. CSWMD conducts research, analysis, and policy support activities that contribute to decision makers’ understanding of the security implications of WMD; supports academic and leadership development programs; and engages with the broader national security community. With its interdisciplinary approach and partnerships with government agencies, academic institutions, and international organizations, CSWMD is a leader in advancing knowledge and understanding of WMD and their implications for national security. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff designated CSWMD as the focal point for WMD education in joint professional military education (JPME).

Under the direction of Mr. Brendan G. Melley, CSWMD prepares the joint warfighter and U.S. national security leaders to address the challenges posed by WMD through education, research, analysis, policy support, and outreach activities across the full spectrum of WMD issues.  

 

Areas of Focus 

Strategic Deterrence

Countering WMD

 



NDU’s Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CSWMD), part of the Institute for National Strategic Studies, has been a trusted resource on WMD challenges to senior Defense and other interagency policy leaders for 30 years.

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Recent Publications

Digital illustration of a human head profile, overlaid on a digital background of electronic circuits, symbolizing artificial intelligence and the fusion of technology with the human mind.
Moving at WARP Speed Toward Developing the Cyborg Soldier
By Dr. James Giordano and Dr. Diane DiEuliis | Aug. 25, 2025
There is an adage that the fruits of scientific achievement applicable to real-world settings tend to blossom with the fertilization of time and trends.

Image of a micro-UAV shown on China Central Television
COMMENTARY: Insect-Sized Microdrones: A Tiny Vector for Big Biothreats
By Dr. James Giordano and Dr. Diane DiEuliis | July 30, 2025
Recent demonstrations by China’s National University of Defense Technology, aired on state broadcast CCTV-7, revealed mosquito-sized robotic micro-unmanned aerial vehicles that are approximately two centimeters long and weigh 0.3 grams.

First page of Strategic Forum 313,
Drone Delivery of Bioweapons: Responsibilities for Force Readiness
By James Giordano and Diane DiEuliis | July 22, 2025
The U.S. National Drone Association recently sponsored the inaugural international U.S. Military Drone Crucible Championship to provide a venue for American and allied military drone training, advanced piloting, operational utility, and countermeasure capability.

Magnified glass globe
Brain Scanning: Assessing Emigration of U.S. Scientific Talent to Surveille Strategic Implications for China’s Dual-Use Technological Capabilities
By Dr. Diane DiEuliis and Dr. James Giordano | June 24, 2025
Intensifying global competition in science and technology (S/T), particularly in fields with considerable disruptive potential - such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, synthetic biology, and neurotechnology—has become a defining feature of 21st-century geopolitical dynamics.

Cover of NIPP Occasional Paper
Re-examining National Missile Defense Strategy: Defending Against China
By Dr. Kathleen Ellis | June 11, 2025
Dr. Kathleen Ellis, CSWMD Senior Policy Fellow, authored a National Institute for Public Policy (NIPP) Occasional Paper, “Re-examining National Missile Defense Strategy: Defending Against China,”

Meet the Experts

CSWMD
Brendan G. Melley
Director, CSWMD
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Dr. Justin Anderson, Research Fellow, CSWMD
Justin Anderson
Deputy Director, CSWMD
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CSWMD
Sarah Gamberini
Senior Policy Fellow, CSWMD
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Kathleen Ellis
Senior Policy Fellow, CSWMD
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Diane DiEuliis
Diane DiEuliis
Expert Consultant, CSWMD
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Chris Andrews
Policy Fellow, CSWMD
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Paul David-Justus
Assistant Research Fellow, CSWMD
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Ashley Bramucci
Assistant Research Fellow, CSWMD
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