Strategic Deterrence
10/01/24 • 26 min
In October 1962, a U-2 reconnaissance plane captured images of Soviet missile sites under construction in Cuba. What followed was a tense 13-day standoff between the US and the Soviet Union—an event that became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This pivotal moment in the Cold War revealed the catastrophic potential of nuclear war and the urgent need for diplomacy. Today, we're diving deep into the national security principle of strategic deterrence—a policy designed to win wars not by preparing for their inevitability, but by preventing them outright.
---
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
- Dr. Marvin Adams, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration
- Michael Zika, Principal Associate Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Brad Wallin, Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
In October 1962, a U-2 reconnaissance plane captured images of Soviet missile sites under construction in Cuba. What followed was a tense 13-day standoff between the US and the Soviet Union—an event that became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This pivotal moment in the Cold War revealed the catastrophic potential of nuclear war and the urgent need for diplomacy. Today, we're diving deep into the national security principle of strategic deterrence—a policy designed to win wars not by preparing for their inevitability, but by preventing them outright.
---
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
- Dr. Marvin Adams, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration
- Michael Zika, Principal Associate Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Brad Wallin, Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Previous Episode
Supercomputing
In the 1960s, a quiet revolution was taking shape behind the scenes—one that would eventually touch every corner of our modern world. As Cold War tensions rose and the future grew more uncertain, scientists embarked on a mission to harness a new kind of power: high performance computing. What began as an effort to solve complex nuclear challenges would soon transform the way we think, work, and live.
From early machines like the UNIVAC-1, nicknamed an "oversized toaster," to today’s supercomputers capable of simulating entire worlds, this episode explores how Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s relentless innovations have transformed technology—and continue to shape the future of our everyday lives.
---
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
- Michel Mccoy, Former Director of LLNL's Advanced Simulation and Computing Program
- Rob Neely, Associate Director for Weapon Simulation and Computing at LLNL
- Becky Springmeyer, Division Leader for Livermore Computing.
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Next Episode
Day in a Life of Deterrence
Strategic deterrence is the foundation of U.S. national defense, but it’s only as strong as the nuclear triad that supports it.
Think of the nuclear triad—land, sea and air—as a three-legged stool that holds up the entire strategy. For this "stool" to remain steady, the weapons, systems and devices within each leg must be credible.
But what does it take to ensure that credibility? And what role do the teams at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory play in keeping the U.S. secure? Tune in to find out.
---
Big Ideas Lab is a Mission.org original series.
Executive Produced and Written by Lacey Peace.
Sound Design, Music Edit and Mix by Daniel Brunelle.
Story Editing by Daniel Brunelle.
Audio Engineering and Editing by Matthew Powell.
Narrated by Matthew Powell.
Video Production by Levi Hanusch.
Guests featured in this episode (in order of appearance):
- Michael Zika, Principal Associate Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Dr. Marvin Adams, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration
- Brad Wallin, Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Jong Oliver, Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff of LLNL’s Strategic Deterrence Directorate
Brought to you in partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/big-ideas-lab-593269/strategic-deterrence-75739307"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to strategic deterrence on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy