Staff & Contact Information

Find contact information for assistance with the Deterrence Symposium.

The Commander, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is sponsoring a competition for the best research papers on the subject of strategic deterrence. Participating researchers are asked to submit papers to USSTRATCOM by June 1, 2025.

Dress Code

USA: Service B w/ ribbons
USMC: Service C w/ ribbons
USN: Summer Whites
USAF: Short Sleeve Blue Shirt
USSF: Class B Short Sleeve Blue Shirt
Civilian: Business Attire

USSTRATCOM Social Channels

Submissions will be judged in one of two categories. The “junior” category is for undergraduate and masters students. The “senior” category is for doctoral students, postdocs, and entry to mid-level professionals. The winning author in each category will be recognized with an award, publication in a peer reviewed journal and travel funding to attend the 2025 Deterrence Symposium.

NEW for 2025!

• Norwich University, Journal of Peace & War Studies (JPWS) will serve on the junior category selection panel and publish the winning paper in JPWS
• Joint Force Quarterly (JFQ) will serve on the senior category selection panel and publish the winning paper in JFQ

Criteria for papers:

• Recommended paper length: 4,000-5,000 words. Articles substantially longer will not be eligible for publication
• Citation format for footnotes/endnotes must follow The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed.
• Please confirm your manuscript is not under consideration for publication elsewhere
• Submissions must not contain any classified references or material
• For additional information, please see the submission guidelines for Journal of Peace & War Studies or Joint Force Quarterly.

Submission requirements:

• Please include your full name, email address, current position or educational pursuit
• Indicate if you are submitting for the Junior or Senior award category
• Submit papers via email to Dr. Jennifer Bradley at stratcom.offutt.j5.mbx.welch-writing-award-mailbox@mail.mil

A panel of defense policy experts will judge papers on the following:

• Applicability to current deterrence issues
• Quality of argument
• Implications for future deterrence analysis, planning, and operations
• Historical accuracy
• Quality of reference material

Research topics:

• Strategic deterrence is a broad subject, and paper topics need not be limited to nuclear deterrence
• Current USSTRATCOM research focus areas can be found at: https://www.stratcom.mil/Academic-Alliance/USSTRATCOM-Academic-Alliance/
  • “Selected Research Topics” tab

 

In addition to sponsoring the Welch Deterrence Writing Award, we are pleased to offer students the opportunity to present deterrence and assurance related research through poster sessions at the 2025 United States Strategic Command Deterrence Symposium. The top undergraduate and graduate student submissions will be selected to present their research both days of the symposium during event breaks and between panel sessions. Selected students will also be provided no-cost symposium registration and travel funding to attend.

Why should a student participate? The Deterrence Symposium provides an excellent opportunity for students to engage deterrence experts from military, government, academia, and industry. As in previous years, we anticipate over 700 U.S. and international participants. We suggest students bring copies of their research and business cards.

Poster element recommendations:

• Title/Author
• Abstract: Identify research topic, intent of research, and findings/conclusion.
• Body: What are the main questions paper is addressing?
• Data/empirics: Opportunity to use graphs, charts or quantitative analysis. Visual representations of argument or data is very useful in a poster.
• Conclusions: Be clear and concise. What did you find and how is this similar/different from previous analyses? What is the “bottom line” of your analysis?
• Have references available.

Poster size and visual format: Will be provided to selected students

Submission details: Submit poster proposal, abstract of the research, university affiliation and contact information no later than 1 July 2025 via email to Dr. Jennifer Bradley at stratcom.offutt.j5.mbx.welch-writing-award-mailbox@mail.mil

 

2024 Award Winners

Nuclear Redeployment: A Roadmap for Returning Nonstrategic Nuclear
Weapons to the Korean Peninsula

Major David “Jobs” Phillips, Nuclear and Missile Operations Officer, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

 

2023 Award Winners

Chinese War Control and U.S. Approaches to Deterrence

Annika Kastetter, CSIS Nuclear Scholars Program, 2022 Cohort

Russian Thought, Global Challenges: A Dive into Russian Perspectives of Strategic Stability

Mr. Brandon Cortino, Project Associate, CRDF Global

 

2022 Award Winners

Deterring, Countering, and Defeating Conventional-Nuclear Integration

Dr. Justin Anderson, National Defense University
Lt Col James R. McCue, USAF

Revitalizing America's Low-Yield Deterrent

Cadet First Class Alexander R. Kleitz, U.S. Air Force Academy

 

2021 Award Winners

Russia and Western Concepts of Deterrence, Normative Power, and Sanctions

Dr. Viljar Veebel, Baltic Defence College

Deterring Terrorist Organizations in Times of a Global Pandemic

Mr. Grant Van Robays, University of Nebraska-Omaha

 

2020 Award Winner

Strategy in the New Era of Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Colonel Joseph D. Becker, USA

 

2019 Award Winners

India's Deterrence Goldilocks Dilemma in South Asia

Mr. Geoffrey Brown, Georgia Institute of Technology

Extended Deterrence and Resilience in the Baltic States

Second Lieutenant Liam J. Connolly, U.S. Air Force Academy

 

2018 Award Winner

Xi Jinping's Rise and Aspirations: Prospect Theory Analysis

Victoria Cera
Daniel Flynn
Dr. Keith Payne
James To
Michelle Wietbrock

 

2017 Award Winners

Perception is Reality: The ROK's Displeasure with the US Tailored Deterrence Strategy

Barbara J. Hirz

Russion Information Warfare & Implications for Deterrence Policy

Media Ajir
Shelby Haas
Bethany Vailiant