Lesley Kucharski

Lesley Kucharski is a Fellow at the Center for Global Security Research (CGSR) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Her work examines the role of information confrontation in Russian and Chinese approaches to deterrence, focusing on the nexus between the information and nuclear domains and the implications for US nuclear policy, including deterrence, allied assurance, and US policy towards the global nuclear nonproliferation regime. She also leads a strategic analysis reading group that aims to familiarize temporary CGSR research staff and the larger LLNL community with foundational texts in the field of deterrence studies.

Prior to joining CGSR, Lesley worked on nuclear policy issues as part of the international staff at NATO’s Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Centre and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. She holds an M.A. in nonproliferation and terrorism studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, an M.A. in Russian language from Middlebury College, and a B.A. in Russian studies and economics from the University of Michigan.

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Recent Publications

Contentious narratives and disinformation about nuclear weapons in strategic deterrence and competition: A SOF perspective, Strategic Multilayer Assessment Perspectives Report, Emerging Strategic & Geopolitical Challenges: Operational Implications for US Combatant Commands (Eds. Bragg and Cabayan), pp. 39-47, November 2022 (with Trisha Wyman and Zachary S. Davis)

Countering the “Information Confrontation” Strategies of Russia and China, Workshop report, CGSR, September 2022 (with Mike Albertson, Marimar Calisto, Brian Radzinsky)

On Surprise Attacks Below the “Bolt from the Blue” Threshold, Runner-up submission, 2021 Army Mad Scientist Writing Contest, February 2022

Lessons in Humility and Adaptability from Thelonious Monk: The strategic thinking around nuclear deterrence and disarmament could learn a thing or two from an unconventional source>/a>, Essay, Inkstick, 01 July 2021

Russian Multi-Domain Strategy against NATO: Information confrontation and US forward-deployed nuclear weapons, CGSR, February 2018

Negotiating the Draft Radiological Weapons Convention, Chapter 7, Once and Future Partners: The United States, Russia and Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Eds. Potter and Bidgood), IISS, 2018 (with Sarah Bidgood and Paul Warnke)