The Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) translates research into actionable insights, informing policymakers and shaping the global conversation on war, peace, and emerging technology.
As a cross-university meeting place, CMIST offers a balanced perspective on critical debates around new technologies and their impact on security and policy. Leveraging CMU’s cutting-edge research in fields such as machine learning, robotics, and human-computer interaction, our multidisciplinary team of social scientists delivers expert analyses on the ethical, social, political, and economic implications of new and emerging technologies. Our researchers adopt a fresh approach to understanding how emerging technologies influence war and peace, and how best to harness their potential to create a more stable, equitable world.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS
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Date
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Event & Registration
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Speaker(s)
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Thurs, 1/16/2025
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Wed, 1/29/2025
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Matthew Fuhrmann
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Tues, 2/11/2025
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Scientists & Strategists - How Tech Firms Shape Geopolitics |
Adam Segal
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Mon,
2/17/2025
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Scientists & Strategists - How Can We Manage the Misuse Potential of Increasingly Powerful Technologies? - CANCELLED |
Jonas Sandbrink |
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Thurs, 2/20/2025
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Scientists & Strategists - Civil-Military Relations: Throughout History and in Modern Times |
Kori Schake |
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Mahadev Satyanarayanan and JustinFanelli |
Scientists & Strategists
Each semester, our Scientists and Strategists speaker series brings in experts on international relations, STEM, and national and international security to lead engaging and nuanced discussions surrounding the most pressing topics of our time. For example, in spring 2024, we covered topics ranging from the structure of political debates surrounding new technologies, to how increasingly accessible lethal technologies are changing the geopolitical landscape, to how to identify (and combat) unconscious bias and gender inequities in STEM. We are keeping these critical conversations going this fall 2024 with discussions on the strategy and security impacts in the clean energy transition, as well as the dynamics between technology and human agency in the shifting nature of armed conflict. In the meantime, catch up on the recordings from past speakers.
For decades, the innovation of U.S. tech companies has allowed the U.S. tech sector to dominate international competitors, supply critical technology for defense modernization, and promote American power. However, domestic political shifts and geopolitical competition, particularly with China, are reshaping this partnership. Dr. Adam Segal explores what this means for the US national security and foreign policy interests.
How does nuclear technology influence international relations? Professor Matthew Fuhrmann's discusses his recent book, Influence Without Arms: The New Logic of Nuclear Deterrence, which puts the spotlight on countries that have the technology to build nuclear bombs but choose not to. These weapons-capable countries, such as Brazil, Germany, and Japan, have what is known as nuclear latency, and they shape world politics in important ways. Fuhrmann navigates a critical yet poorly understood issue.
Dr. T.X. Hammes, Distinguished Fellow at the National Defense University’s Center for Strategic Research and adjunct professor at Georgetown, and Dr. Jeff Schneider, research professor in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science adress how key emerging technologies are transforming the nature of warfare. Moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin, Hammes and Schneider explore how military strategies must evolve to keep pace with technological innovations, highlighting the balance between cutting-edge robotics and the human element in modern conflict.
Harry Krejsa, former Assistant National Cyber Director for Strategy and Research at the White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), and Costa Samaras, Director of CMU’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation discuss the new era of U.S. industrial policy and the clean energy transition. Moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin, Krejsa and Samaras address new vulnerabilities, threats from adversaries, and frameworks to mitigate risks and maximize potential in the clean energy transition. Together they explore the intricacies of this transformative era and how to blaze the path forward.
Renowned journalist and author Kate Zernike discusses her captivating book, The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins and the Fight for Women in Science. Zernike explores the true story of Dr. Nancy Hopkins, a brilliant scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who led a group of sixteen female faculty members in collective action that ultimately resulted in MIT's historic admission of discrimination against women in the male-dominated field of science. Zernike engrosses the audience with a national conversation about unconscious bias and gender inequities in STEM.
For over half a century, the language we have used to identify and govern security concerns in science and technology has often revolved around the term "dual use." The term, however, has substantial limitations that hinder our ability to even see, let alone govern, security concerns in today’s geopolitical, social, and technical environments. Dr. Sam Weiss Evans outlines the reasons why the term has such purchase with a wide range of governing mechanisms today, provides examples of its limitations, sketches some alternatives, and explores how changes in language can be part of a bigger shift in security governance.
Dr. Sarah Percy discusses the historic role of women in combat, the subject of her recent book, Forgotten Warriors: The Long History of Women in Combat. From Boudicca’s rebellion to the war in Ukraine, battlefields have always contained a surprising number of women. Some formed all-female armies; some fought disguised as men; some mobilized in times of national survival. International relations expert Percy unearths the stories of these forgotten warriors, setting the historical record straight and revealing that women’s exclusion from active combat is a blip in a much longer narrative of female inclusion.
Based on her award-winning book, Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation is Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists, Dr. Audrey Kurth Cronin discusses how individuals and small groups have shared and used accessible lethal technology in the past, and how they are likely to do so in the future. The diffusion of modern technologies--digital media, robotics, additive manufacturing, synthetic biology, autonomous systems, machine learning, and artificial intelligence--makes them accessible to a broader range of people, and that alters war. The evolution of conflict is changing and we must adapt.
Boomers, Doomers, and the Politics of Technology
Dr. Sarah Kreps examines debates about the speed and impact of the most disruptive and influential technologies or technological trends since nuclear weapons--nuclear weapons themselves, social media, AI, crypto, and commercial space like SpaceX. In debates about new technologies, boomers develop technologies that they believe will deliver benefits and doomers fear the catastrophic consequences of these technologies. Kreps's analysis reveals patterns that explore the divide of theory and practice and lead to an optimistic assessment about the past, present, and future of tech governance.
Lawfully Speaking
To complement its new American Politics and Law minor, CMIST launched Lawfully Speaking: A Forum on Law & Ethics in the spring of 2024. This lecture series fosters open dialogue on legal and ethical issues, offering a learning environment for those curious about the intersection of law and ethics. The debut lecture was delivered by well-known international lawyer John Bellinger, who currently handles a range of cutting-edge international legal dilemmas — from questions of state sovereignty to laws of war and trade disputes.
In his lecture, Who’s Afraid of International Law? Why the Senate is Approving Fewer Treaties, Mr. Bellinger discussed why Presidents are entering into more international agreements that do not require Senate approval.
In our fall 2024 installment of Lawfully Speaking, the Honorable Judge James E. Baker discussed the future of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and national security in his presentation entitled Promise and Peril: The Next Ten Years of National Security AI and its Regulation.
Conversations with Senior Leaders
Conversations with Senior Leaders is a speaker series hosted by CMIST that provides a unique platform for emerging leaders to gain insights from seasoned professionals in the fields of national security and technology. Our series brings together distinguished figures who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, providing invaluable perspectives on leadership, strategy, and the challenges and opportunities facing our world today. The events provide insights into the strategic thinking and decision-making processes that have shaped their illustrious careers. During these candid discussions, these leaders share their leadership philosophies, strategies for success, and hard-earned lessons learned, offering invaluable guidance to those seeking to navigate complex challenges and achieve their own professional goals.
Prof. Cronin and Ambassador Nathaniel Fick discuss the field of tech diplomacy, his current role in shaping U.S. cyberspace and digital policy, and the importance of careers in public service.
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Nathaniel C. Fick
Inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
Prof. Cronin and Dr. Dixon’s discuss the critical impact of public service in advancing national security and lessons learned from Dixon's incredible career at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Stacey A. Dixon
Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
General Laura Richardson and Lieutenant General Jim Richardson offer insights into their esteemed careers, navigating married life in the military, and the art of turning challenges into opportunities.
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Laura J. Richardson
United States Army General
Commander, U.S. Southern Command
Jim Richardson
Retired, United States Army Lieutenant General; CMU Distinguished Executive in Residence
Lieutenant General Jim Richardson shares what he’s learned in his career, his thoughts on future technology challenges, and what's next at The Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C).
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Jim Richardson
Retired, United States Army Lieutenant General; CMU Distinguished Executive in Residence
Admiral James Foggo discusses the origins of his naval career, what submarine life is really like, and his thoughts on evolving perceptions on artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
Patrick Cronin
CMIST Scholar in Residence
Asia-Pacific Security Chair, Hudson Institute
James Foggo
Dean, Center for Maritime Strategy of the Navy League; Retired, Admiral U.S. Navy
Introduction by: Audrey Kurth Cronin, CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Digital Diplomacy
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) hosted a thought-provoking event - Digital Diplomacy: Building Solidarity in Cyberspace. The evening kicked-off with welcomes by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin and CMU's Provost Jim Garrett. Keynote speaker, inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, Nathaniel Fick explored worldwide trends in tech and digital diplomacy. A panel featuring international diplomats Minister Paula Bogantes Zamora of Costa Rica and Ambassador Benedikt Wechsler of Switzerland followed the keynote and was moderated CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin.
Deeper Conversations
Deeper Conversations, which President Farnam Jahanian launched in January 2024, is a university-wide initiative aimed at promoting the power of civil discourse. It spans a range of programming options — from scholarly lectures to cultural events — to engage members of the Carnegie Mellon community in studying and discussing some of the most complex challenges facing society today. Each wave of programming explores a specific divisive issue and is open to CMU students, faculty and staff.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, CMU is focused on exploring critical topics related to democracy and the election. Here's a look at CMIST's involvement in Deeper Conversations.
Cyber-Enabled Nation-State Influence Operations: Are Russia, China and Iran Interfering in the U.S. Election?
On October 28, this session examines recent evidence of nation-state interference in U.S. elections and discusses strategies to protect our democratic process from these threats. Panelists include Bret Schafer, Bryan Prior, and Darren Linvill and is moderated by CMIST Director, Audrey Kurth Cronin.
Bridging the Divide: Understanding and Addressing Political Polarization in America
On September 11, this panel, featuring professors Kevin Zollman, Jonathan Cervas (CMIST), and Karina Schumann and moderated by Dean Richard Scheines, delved into the structural forces driving this polarization and explore potential solutions.
OUR WORK
Publications
CMIST's inaugural white paper from Director of Studies Harry Krejsa, Sun Shield: How Clean Tech & America’s Energy Expansion Can Stop Chinese Cyber Threats, discusses how the U.S. can lead the charge on clean energy while protecting our infrastructure from rising cyber threats. With China's influence in critical energy supply chains growing, it’s time to rethink how we modernize and protect our energy systems. Get insights on upgrading the electrical grid with digitally-native tech, leveraging clean energy deployment to strengthen our cybersecurity, and boosting American leadership in the technologies that will power tomorrow’s economy.
Modern War Institute
The Congo’s Fork in the Road: If the West Won’t Intervene, Russia Will
By Haleigh Bartos and John Chin
Political Science Quarterly
Rethinking Warfare in the 21st Century: The Influence and Effects of the Politics, Information and Communication Mix by Iulian Chifu and Greg Simons (Book Review)
By Nadiya Kostyuk
The National Interest
Donald Trump 2.0 and The Next Era of Superpower Competition
By Patrick M. Cronin
War on the Rocks
Stealth and Scale: Quality, Quantity, and Modern Military Power
By Michael Horowitz and Joshua Schwartz
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Can They Control the Weather? How the Secretive History of Weather Weapons Fuels Conspiracy Theories
By Justin Key Canfil
Media Mentions
“We should expect Trump to behave even less conventionally than during his first term, because now he has much more political experience than in 2016 and has a clearer understanding of what he wants and can do as president,”
While “the net effect of gerrymandering is difficult to gauge,” partisan redistricting “created a substantial advantage for Republicans nationwide,” making it “pretty clear that the Republicans have the advantage in terms of how the districts lines were drawn to favor a party,”
“The cost of collecting data from social media has gone through the roof,”
PODCASTS & INTERVIEWS
Council on Foreign Relations
Strategic Lessons From One Year of War
Guests: Audrey Kurth Cronin, Tamir Hayman, and Robert Pape; Elise Labott
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)
KBS Documentary Insight - Politics of Impeachment
Guests: John Chin and Joe Wright
Berlin Security Beat
The Cyber Dimension of the Russian Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine
Podcast guest: Nadiya Kostyuk
More Interviews and Podcasts:
2024 and prior
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
Professional Education
- Expert Faculty: Learn from industry experts, accomplished practitioners, and thought leaders who bring real-world insights to each course.
- Customized Learning Curriculum: Tailor education courses with a curriculum that aligns with specific career goals and organizational needs.
- Global Network: Join a vibrant community of professionals, fostering valuable connections and collaborations across industries and geographies.
- Practical Application: Our courses emphasize practical application, ensuring that you can immediately apply your newfound knowledge and skills in your professional life.
Interested in creating an executive education program?
Contact CMIST Deputy Director for Security Policy Studies, Dr. Ralph López.Military Fellows Program
Since its inception in 2015, the Military Fellows Program at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has welcomed service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard who bring their wealth of experience as seasoned leaders to the academic environment. Our fellows spend their time at CMU researching, engaging with faculty and scholars, participating in conferences, experiencing cutting-edge simulations, networking across the campus community, and providing mentorship to our students. The goal is to bring accomplished military and national security leaders to campus to harness the intellectually rich opportunities at CMU and study the wide-ranging implications of technological innovations for domestic and international security.
2024-2025 Cohort
2023-2024 Cohort
Commander Kenneth Sauerbrunn, US Coast Guard Fellow
Major Bridget Pantaelon, US Air Force National Defense Fellow2022-2023 Cohort
2021-2022 Cohort
2020-2021 Cohort
2019-2020 Cohort
2018-2019 Fellow
2017-2018 Fellow
2016-2017 Fellow
2015-2016 Fellow
(L to R: Colonel Retired Ralph López, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Duval, Captain Matthew Scott Austin, Major Ronisha Carter, Explosive Ordnance Disposal First Class Nick Albarracin, and Commander Heather Thomas)TEAM OF TEAMS
