Report of the Joint Defense Science Board/Threat Reduction Advisory Committee Task Force on the Nuclear Weapons Effects National Enterprise

This report offers important considerations regarding the state of the nuclear weapons effects enterprise and the need for leadership awareness and intervention. Nuclear weapons remain a serious threat to our nation's security. The nation's capability to deter against this threat and provide assurance to our allies requires that US nuclear and conventional forces are able to operate in a nuclear environment. Unfortunately, the nation's expertise and capability to operate in a nuclear environment have decayed. As a result the Department of Defense and the nation are not as well prepared as it should be to deter, defend, and mitigate an attack. This study serves to renew attention on the nation's nuclear weapons effects enterprise. It offers recommendations for rebuilding critical capabilities, for improved collaboration throughout government stakeholders, and for enhanced attention at the leadership level.