Adam D. WILLIAMS
Academic Background:
- 2012 - present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
- 2007 • Texas A&M University, George Bush School of Government and Public Service: Master of International Affairs
- 2004 • Texas A&M University, Dwight Look College of Engineering: BS in Mechanical Engineering
Work Experience:
- 2011 - Present • Sandia National Laboratories • Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Senior R&D Systems Engineer, International Security Engineering Department:- Sandia project lead for NA-24's Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII)
- Physical protection lead (and Sandia project lead) for NA-25's cooperation on the China Center of Excellence for Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation
- Research member for Sandia project on systems dynamics, resilience, and complex, adaptive, system of systems (CASoS) modeling of nonproliferation
- Policy analysis for Sandia's global security engagement, nuclear nonproliferation and international security projects.
- 2008 - 2011• Sandia National Laboratories • Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Member of the Technical Staff, International Security Technical Systems Analyst- Vulnerability assessment and physical protection system design and analysis for NNSA/NA-25 and NA-21 international programs
- Project manager for NA-24's Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII)
- Policy analysis for Sandia's global security engagement, nuclear nonproliferation and international security projects.
- 2007 - 2008 • Nuclear Security Science & Policy Institute • College Station, TX, USA
Temporary Research Assistant- Provided foundation research for the systems and risk analysis team of the Smuggled HEU Interdicting through Enhanced anaLysis and Dectectors (SHIELD) project (
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- Expanded the usability of NSSPI-07-051: Network Analysis of Nuclear Terrorism Pathways (
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- Provided foundation research for the systems and risk analysis team of the Smuggled HEU Interdicting through Enhanced anaLysis and Dectectors (SHIELD) project (
- 2007 - 2008 • Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs • College Station, TX, USA
Temporary Research Associate- Research, fact-checking and writing for the chapter "The President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board," in Loch K. Johnson, ed., The Oxford Handbook of National Security Intelligence (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), 172-88 (Michael C. Desch, Kenneth Absher, and Roman Popadiuk).
Research Domain:
Nuclear Nonproliferation & Security
Research Methodology:
Dynamics and Decision Analysis
Research Description:
Viewing the nuclear proliferation problem as such a “nonproliferation system” provides a useful mental map that illustrates how various networks (i.e., international organizations, domestic political decision-makers, nuclear technology expertise) and flows (i.e., the direction of international pressure, direction of command and control over nuclear assets, technology transfer) within the system affect system output. A nonproliferation system would identify, quantify, and evaluate the inherently large amount of uncertainty and the inter- and intra-relational dynamics of the associated sovereignty, political, and national security issues. If nonproliferation is defined as system, the unique role that governance and policy – both international and domestic – play suggests that they need to be considered not as system constraints but as primary components of the system itself.
Select Publications:
- Williams, Adam, Abdelaziz Al Madhloum, Philip Beeley, Byung Koo Kim, David Boyle, Amir Mohagheghi, Michael Schuller, and Faraj Ghanbari. "Implementation and Expansion of the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute." (Availability TBD). Proceedings Paper for the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, 53rd Annual Meeting: 2012.
- Pregenzer, Arian, Robert Glass, Arlo Ames, Walter Beylever, Sharon Deland and Adam Williams. "A Systems Approach to Assessing Nonproliferation Strategies."
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available here
- Williams, Adam, Philip Beeley, David Boyle, Amir Mohagheghi, and Ashley Nilsen. "Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII): Overview and Status Update."
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abstract available here
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- Boyle, David, Amir Mohagheghi, and Adam Williams. "GNEII - Instilling Global Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security, and Safeguards in Developing Countries."
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available here
- Williams, Adam, Amir Mohagheghi, David Boyle, and Philip Beeley. "The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute: An Integrated Approach to Safety, Security, and Safeguards."
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available here
- Williams, Adam, Amir Mohagheghi, David Boyle, and Philip Beeley. "The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute: A Partnership for Human Research Development."
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presentation slides available here
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