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Ashton B. Carter

Ashton B. Carter

Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

Former Chair of International & Global Affairs faculty, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy (1993–1996), U.S. Department of Defense

Member of the Board (on leave), Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs

Former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (April 2009–October 2011)

 

 

By Region

 

AP Photo

June 17, 2010

"The Way Forward on Missile Defense"

Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

"Iran's continued pursuit of an illicit nuclear program and North Korea's rash intimidation after sinking a South Korean navy ship are but the most recent reminders of the real need for effective U.S. missile defenses," write Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter.

 

 

January 25, 2006

The U.S. Military: Under Strain and at Risk

Report

By Dr. William J. Perry, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities, Secretary Madeleine K. Albright, Graham Allison, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy School, Samuel R. Berger, General Wesley K. Clark, Former Senior Advisor, 2001-2009, Preventive Defense Project, Thomas E. Donilon, John D. Podesta, Susan E. Rice, General (ret.) John M. Shalikashvili, Former Founding Senior Advisor, Preventive Defense Project, Amb. Wendy R. Sherman, Dr. Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall, Former Founding Senior Advisor, Preventive Defense Project and Dr. James B. Steinberg

The National Security Advisory Group sounds a warning, raising awareness about the state of our ground forces today and the very real risk that poses to our future security. The group also proposes an action plan for restoring the health and vitality of the U.S. military.

 

AP Photo

June 17, 2010

"The Way Forward on Missile Defense"

Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

"Iran's continued pursuit of an illicit nuclear program and North Korea's rash intimidation after sinking a South Korean navy ship are but the most recent reminders of the real need for effective U.S. missile defenses," write Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter.

 

AP Photo

June 17, 2010

"The Way Forward on Missile Defense"

Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

"Iran's continued pursuit of an illicit nuclear program and North Korea's rash intimidation after sinking a South Korean navy ship are but the most recent reminders of the real need for effective U.S. missile defenses," write Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ashton Carter.

 

 

February 26, 2009

Harvard Kennedy School’s Ashton Carter Nominated as Pentagon’s Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

Press Release

By Beth Maclin, Former Communications Assistant, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

President Barack Obama announced Monday that he has nominated Dr. Ashton B. Carter to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

 

 

July 2008

Project on National Security Reform - Preliminary Findings

Report

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities, David M. Abshire, Norman R. Augustine, Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill, Charles G. Boyd, Daniel W. Christman, General Wesley K. Clark, Former Senior Advisor, 2001-2009, Preventive Defense Project, Ruth A. David, Leon Fuerth, Newt Gingrich, James R. Locher III, James M. Loy, Jessica Tuchman Mathews, John McLaughlin, Joseph S. Nye, Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor, Carlos Pascual, Amb. Thomas R. Pickering, General Brent Scowcroft, Editorial Board Member, Quarterly Journal: International Security, Jeffrey H. Smith, Dr. James B. Steinberg and Ken Weinstein

The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) - a bipartisan, private-public partnership sponsored by the Center for the Study of the Presidency - has released its preliminary findings on needed changes in the national security system (covering both international and homeland security). PNSR's goal is approval of a new system early in the next administration. It envisions three sets of reforms: new presidential directives or executive orders, a new national security act, and amendments to Senate and House rules.

 

 

AP Photo

April 15, 2008

Actions Now for the Day After: Findings of the Preventive Defense Day After Project

Testimony

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

PDP Co-Director Ashton B. Carter testifies before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 

 

Department of Defense

January 2008

Defense Management Challenges in the Post-Bush Era

Book Chapter

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities

Dr. Ashton Carter discusses the resource management challenges facing American defense leaders in the coming decade.

 

 

October 2007

Reducing Nuclear Threats and Preventing Nuclear Terrorism

Report

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities, Dr. William J. Perry, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Graham Allison, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy School, Joseph Cirincione, Thomas E. Donilon, Robert Einhorn, Leon Fuerth, Amb. Robert Gallucci, Ernest Moniz, George Perkovich and Amb. Wendy R. Sherman

This National Security Advisory Group report provides a new comprehensive strategy for reducing nuclear threats and preventing nuclear terrorism.

 

 

Autumn 2007

The Day After: Action Following a Nuclear Blast in a U.S. City

Journal Article, Washington Quarterly, issue 4, volume 30

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities, Dr. William J. Perry, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project and Dr. Michael M. May, Editorial Board Member, Quarterly Journal: International Security

Failure to develop a comprehensive contingency plan, such as the one proposed here, and inform the American public, where appropriate, about its particulars will only serve to amplify the devastating impact of any nuclear attack on a U.S. city

 

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