Special IAP Seminar hosted by the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Abstract: Officially, there have been more than 30 accidents involving US Nuclear Weapon since 1945 (but none since 1980!). How do these happen? What types of controls are in place to prevent or mitigate them? How does the US Government respond to these incidents? During this session, we will use historical examples (Damascus, AR Accident and others), and draw on personal experiences, to examine this important topic.

Speaker: Lieutenant Colonel John D. Turner earned his BS in American Politics with a Minor in Nuclear Engineering from The United States Military Academy. Commissioned in 2002, Lt Col Turner has held various staff and leadership positions within the Department of Defense, including three combat tours as a Field Artillery Officer before transitioning to his current role as a Nuclear and Counter WMD Officer. Other notable assignments include time spent at Headquarters, US European Command and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. John earned his Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary and a graduate certificate in Nuclear Weapons Effects, Policy, and Proliferation from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Prior to MIT, John served as a Policy and Plans Officer at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Ft. Bragg, NC.

Sponsor: MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Open to the MIT community

MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.