Debra K. Decker
Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom
Contact:
Telephone: 703-377-8684
Email: debra_decker@ksg.harvard.edu
Experience
Debra Decker has a B.A. in international relations and economics from American University’s School of International Service, an MBA in finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where she focused on international security and development policy and was distinguished as a Littauer Fellow. Early in her career, she worked on arms control and foreign aid for U.S. State Department–related agencies before switching to private industry and working as a corporate strategic planner. More recently, she has been a national award-winning journalist, writing editorials and columns for The Dallas Morning News and providing commentary for National Public Radio in North Texas.
Ms. Decker has been reviewing the recent literature on nuclear proliferation and proposals for reform and assessing interests most impacted by those proposals. Her goal is to determine which proposals would have the most effect on the nuclear future, in terms of providing opportunities while containing threats, and which could be most readily accepted. This will lead to recommendations on the next steps that the United States and the international community should take in order to have a more secure nuclear future. She is currently pursuing this research as a non-resident associate, based in Washington, D.C., where she consults on strategic planning for Booz Allen Hamilton.
Ms. Decker is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, and the World Affairs Council.
AP Photo
Spring 2009
"Insure to Assure: A New Paradigm for Nuclear Nonproliferation and International Security"
Journal Article, Innovations, issue 2, volume 4
By Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan and Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom
"No country has yet encountered major problems in its nuclear fuel supply specifically because of commercial disruptions. However, past political constraints on supply may be part of the motivation for countries like Iran to seek enrichment capability. Thus far it is unclear what other countries might be on the fence about acquiring a full fuel cycle and could be swayed not to enrich if an effective assurance mechanism could address the simply political risk. It is important for IAEA to identify these countries and the assurances they would need so that the best supply assurance mechanism can be crafted. Anticipating nuclear needs—not just for enriched uranium but also for fabricated fuel, transport, spare parts, etc.—and deciding whether and how government should help satisfy such needs is the best way to ensure that the industry develops in ways that serve the public's interests."
AP Photo
June 2009
"Before Disaster Strikes: Rate and Raise Public Preparedness Now"
Policy Brief
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom
More, more severe, and new types of disasters can be expected to occur as a result of new types of threats (e.g., biological, cyber, nuclear/radiological) and more as well as more severe threats due to increased global interconnectedness and climate change. Yet, most Americans are not adequately prepared to respond to or recover from a catastrophic disaster, and many expect the government to take care of them. Even those who have experienced many common disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes may not make appropriate preparations or exercise proper judgment in responding to new disasters that may require different responses. Although community disaster preparation is considered the purview of state and local governments, when a disaster strikes, the federal government is often called in to respond or to help with recovery. For example, New Orleans estimates that the federal government role in rebuilding that city will be $15 billion. Although all rebuilding costs cannot be averted, better citizen preparation and community standards have been shown to reduce the costs of catastrophes.
AP Photo
November 6, 2008
"Use Campaign Energy for Government's Real Work"
Op-Ed, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom and Regina Ryan
"Instead of outsourcing government work to private companies, the Barack Obama administration should devise a program to bring private individuals in, not as costly contractors, not as stifled civil servants, but as low-paid but happy "volunteers." There are only limited opportunities available now....These would be people who may not want to have a 20-year career in government but who like the idea of service and have the skills so needed in government today...."
January 22, 2008
"Nuclear Fuel Supply Concept Developed by Debra Decker and Erwann Michel-Kerjan is Featured in the Global Risks 2008 Report of the World Economic Forum"
Highlight
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan
"A truly innovative concept has been proposed by a joint team from the Wharton Business School and Harvard's Kennedy School: "insure to assure." The proposed solution — complementary to the efforts of the IAEA and others — would create a partnership between financial industries and governments to create the world's first international nuclear fuel insurance fund."
January 2008
"The Economics of Nuclear Energy Markets and the Future of International Security"
Working Paper
By Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan and Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom
This paper discusses the evolution of nuclear energy markets and key drivers of the growing "nuclear renaissance." We focus on uranium, the largest part of the nuclear fuel markets, and analyze market demand, supply, and prices since the 1970s. We review the forces impacting this market—historically and prospectively—and note proliferation concerns surrounding nuclear energy: i.e. the same facilities that enrich uranium for electricity generation can also enrich it further for nuclear weapons.
November 15, 2007
"Statement on U.S. Capabilities in Nuclear Forensics and Attribution in the Aftermath of a Nuclear or Radiological Attack"
Testimony
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom
"Even if the U.S. had a foolproof attribution capability, the capability would prove of limited value unless it was decisively framed within a larger policy context. Gaps do exist on the hard science side and many of them have been enumerated by others, however, the policy gap is also large and must be filled."
September 4, 2007
"The Other Energy Crisis"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, Strategy + Business
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan
As nuclear energy becomes a viable alternative to carbon-based fuels, security is a vital concern. Here’s how private markets might be able to help.
March 2007
"A New Energy Paradigm: Ensuring Nuclear Fuel Supply and Nonproliferation through International Collaboration with Insurance and Financial Markets"
Discussion Paper
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan
"Seeking ways to dissuade more states from contemplating launching their own uranium enrichment programs...the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is considering different mechanisms to assure these states that they can obtain fuel supplies from the market without political interference."
December 22, 2006
"Ensuring Global Uranium Supplies"
Op-Ed, International Herald Tribune
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan
"...a new look at global atomic energy supplies is sorely needed."
December 2006
"Who Pays When the Bomb Goes Off?"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, Foreign Policy
By Debra K. Decker, Associate, International Security Program/Project on Managing the Atom
