ames M. Acton is a senior associate in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment. A physicist by training, Acton specializes in deterrence, disarmament, nonproliferation, and nuclear energy. His research focuses on developing realistic pathways toward a world without nuclear weapons by strengthening nonproliferation bulwarks and rethinking deterrence.

Acton is the author of two studies into deterrence at low numbers: an Adelphi book, Deterrence During Disarmament: Deep Nuclear Reductions and International Security, and Low Numbers: A Practical Path to Deep Nuclear Reductions. He is co-author of a second Adelphi book, Abolishing Nuclear Weapons, and co-editor of its follow-up volume, Abolishing Nuclear Weapons: A Debate (both with George Perkovich).

Acton co-chairs the Next Generation Working Group on U.S.-Russia arms control and is the joint UK member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials. He has provided evidence to the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament and the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.

Acton has published in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Foreign Affairs, Jane’s Intelligence Review, New York Times, Nonproliferation Review, and Survival. He has appeared on CNN State of the Union, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, PBS News Hour, and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show. From 2007 to 2009 he was a regular contributor to the widely read blog, Arms Control Wonk.

Areas of Expertise

Acton specializes in nonproliferation, deterrence, disarmament, civilian nuclear industry, Iranian nuclear capabilities, North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, arms control verification, IAEA safeguards, and radiological terrorism.

Education

Ph.D. in theoretical physics, Cambridge University

Languages

English

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Environmental Policy, Energy Security, Energy, Environment,