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Advancing Peace
Promoting Stability
Shaping policy

Peace and stability are built on the bedrock of deterrence. NIDS influences deterrence thinking and culture through applied research, education, and consulting. 

Welcome to the National Institute
for Deterrence Studies

NIDS is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that provides national security analysis, policy solutions, and deterrence education. It informs involved or interested parties, while advocating for peace through the responsible application of America’s vibrant nuclear deterrent.

Our organization is based upon three lines of effort for effecting and advancing deterrence thinking: education, research, and consulting. Each line of effort includes applications of deterrence practice and development of theory to build and sustain deterrence-minded planners, strategists, and operators.

Expert Education

NIDS offers agile, multimodal education experiences that are designed and taught by experienced deterrence practitioners and experts who are passionate about their mission to edify and inspire America. Our objectives are simple: 1) increase the average American’s awareness of deterrence efficacy; 2) expand the next generation of deterrence professionals, the workforce whose mission is to ensure the worldwide peace, security, and stability for America and its allies; and 3) enhance the thinkers and champions of deterrence, those who compete in the arena of ideas.
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Relevant Research

NIDS research develops products that are meant to expand the understanding and appreciation for deterrence as a means of providing peace and stability. Our written and broadcast products are meant to be thought-provoking and informative from a broad application and experience background. Likewise, our fellows (a key component to this effort) contribute from their experiences and knowledge to provide well-rounded study and understanding of the impacts and application of deterrence.
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Collaborative Consulting

NIDS is composed of deterrence practitioners who have a sustained history of dedicated national service oriented in the study and practice of deterrence. By engaging with us, you access the knowledge and experiences of our diverse experts. The products and efforts led by NIDS have the distinction of practical application and immediate value for implementation. 

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“I regard effective nuclear deterrence as a cost-efficient and effective way for maintaining worldwide peace and stability. My desire is for NIDS to be a key driver in developing an appreciation of deterrence application throughout the United States. Our motto is ‘Think Deterrence’ because we want America to constantly think deterrence; waging deterrence is always cheaper than waging war.”
James C. Petrosky, PhD
President & Co-Founder, NIDS

Our Mission

NIDS is a by-practitioner, for-practitioner institution that influences deterrence thinking and culture through applied research, education, and consulting. 

Guiding Principles

Peace, stability, and prosperity are protected through American strength and deterrence, and the bedrock of deterrence comes from our nuclear arsenal. Peace is lost and wars are waged when deterrence fails. Fear of nuclear escalation prevents large-scale conventional war. 

Arms control efforts must address national security shortfalls to achieve lasting efficacy. Arms control agreements are frail and often fail to achieve intended goals or account for the changing milieu of threats and technological revolutions. America can’t want arms control more than its adversaries. 

Nuclear disarmament by the United States would have calamitous results. Any effort to undermine and/or devalue America’s nuclear deterrent compounds risk to established strategic stability and greatly increases the potential for coercion, conflict, death, and destruction.  

Allies depend on America’s ability to ensure peace and stability by maintaining and extending a credible nuclear deterrent. The United States military, diplomatic, economic, and moral power is either derived from, or bolstered by, America’s nuclear arsenal. 

Our Vision

To serve as a team of practitioners who advance peace and stability through evaluation of deterrence practices and policies, affirming that a credible nuclear deterrent serves as the bedrock for American national security.