Heather Williams

Director, Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Fellow, International Security Program
Williams

Heather Williams is the director of the Project on Nuclear Issues and a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She is also an associate fellow with the Project on Managing the Atom in the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. Before joining CSIS she was a visiting fellow with the Project on Managing the Atom and a Stanton nuclear security fellow in the Security Studies Program at MIT. Until 2022, she was a senior lecturer (associate professor) in defense studies at King’s College London and taught on arms control, deterrence, and disarmament. From 2018 to 2019, Dr. Williams served as a specialist adviser to the House of Lords International Relations Committee inquiry into the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and disarmament, and until 2015 she was a research fellow at Chatham House. She previously worked in the Strategy, Forces, and Resources Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses, where she remains an adjunct research staff member. Dr. Williams has a PhD in war studies from King’s College London, an MA in security policy studies from the George Washington University, and a BA in international relations and Russian studies from Boston University.

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PONI 2024 Virtual Winter Conference

PONI will host its 2024 Virtual Winter Conference on February 26. The theme is "Nuclear Lessons Learned From the Ukraine Conflict."

Event — February 26, 2024

Russian Nuclear Calibration in the War in Ukraine

How have Russia’s nuclear narratives evolved over the course of the war in Ukraine? To address this question and evaluate future nuclear risks, the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues conducted a study on Russian nuclear signaling during the first 18 months of the war.

Brief by Heather Williams, Kelsey Hartigan, Lachlan MacKenzie, and Reja Younis — February 23, 2024

PONI Live Debate: U.S. Nuclear Targeting

The PONI Live Debate is back! Join us for a debate on U.S. Nuclear Targeting between Mr. Franklin Miller and Dr. James Acton on January 25th, 10am-11am ET.  

Event — January 25, 2024

China’s Waterlogged Missiles Don’t Matter

While recent reports of widespread corruption in China’s Strategic Rocket Force have rightly raised questions about the reliability of their nuclear forces, U.S. policymakers should not stray from current strategic plans and efforts to advance risk reduction with Beijing.

Commentary by Heather Williams — January 25, 2024

2024 Global Forecast: The China Challenge

In the first installment of the 2024 Global Forecast—A World Dividing—experts examine the myriad challenges facing U.S.-China relations in 2024, from Chinese military activity and economic coercion to competition for tech dominance and geopolitical standing.

Digital Report by Victor Cha, Gregory C. Allen, Scott Kennedy, Seth G. Jones, Kari A. Bingen, and Heather Williams, Tom Karako, Bonny Lin, Jude Blanchette, Charles Edel, Christopher B. Johnstone, Nicholas Szechenyi, Lily McElwee, Daniel F. Runde, Craig Cohen, Alex Kisling — January 25, 2024

2023 Fall Conference

The Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) will host its 2023 Fall Conference on December 5 at CSIS. The conference will explore the impact of emerging technologies on nuclear security. A call for presentation proposals and registration for conference attendees are forthcoming.

Event — December 5, 2023

Deter and Divide: Russia's Nuclear Rhetoric & Escalation Risks in Ukraine

Russia’s nuclear threats have underpinned each stage of the war in Ukraine as Putin attempts to deter and divide NATO support. However, if Russia faces battlefield setbacks, its nuclear threats could intensify, testing NATO's resolve.

Digital Report by Heather Williams, Kelsey Hartigan, Lachlan MacKenzie, and Reja Younis — December 4, 2023

Project Atom Report Launch

Please join the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) to discuss the findings of PONI's forthcoming Project Atom report. The Project Atom report consists of five competing strategies for deterring two peer adversaries written by six senior experts with diverse perspectives.

Event — November 7, 2023