Robert Joseph

Robert Joseph



Robert Joseph is Senior Scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy. From May 2005 until March 2007, he served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and as US Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation. Confirmed unanimously by the Senate, Bob reported to the Secretary of State as the principal State Department officer for non-and counterproliferation matters, arms control, arms transfers, regional security, defense relations, and security assistance. From January 2001 through November 2004, he served in the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation and Homeland Defense. Bob was responsible, under the leadership of the National Security Advisor, for developing and coordinating US policies and strategies for preventing and defending against threats to the United States from weapons of mass destruction.

Dr Joseph's major areas of responsibility at the White House and in the State Department included: formulation and implementation of national strategies to counter proliferation threats; formulation of US policy on strategic missile defense; design and promotion of international initiatives on non- and counterproliferation, including launching the Proliferation Security Initiative and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism; and development and deployment of counterproliferation capabilities. From 1992 until 2001, Bob was Professor of National Security Studies and Director/Founder of the Center for Counterproliferation Research at the National Defense University. Earlier, he was confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Commissioner to the Standing Consultative Commission with the rank of Ambassador, serving concurrently as head of the US delegation to the US-Russian Commission on Nuclear Testing.

Dr Joseph received his BA from Saint Louis University and his MA from the University of Chicago. He received his MPhil and PhD from Columbia University. Bob taught International Relations/Strategic Studies at the National War College, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tulane University, and Carleton College.

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This page last updated July 10, 2026 sa