Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

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This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a "Conversation With History." I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Dr. Harold Smith who is Distinguished Visiting Scholar and Professor with the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, where he focuses on the impact of technology on foreign and defense policy. From 1993 to 1998, Dr. Smith was assistant to the Secretary of Defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a Commander in the Legion of Honor of France. He has three times received the highest honor granted by the Department of Defense for civilian service, the Distinguished Public Service Award, as well as the Director's Award of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Exceptional Civilian Service Award of the Air Force, and the Commendation of the Secretary of the Navy. His publications appear regularly in journals focused on national security and foreign policy.

1. Background ... influence of parents ... education ... nuclear engineering ... research problems as a young scholar ... professor at Berkeley ... interdisciplinary treasures
2. Nuclear Engineering and Public Policy ... mathematics and tenacity ... assistant to Secretary of Defense McNamara ... strategic analysis and the Vietnam War ... adapting technology to the needs of national security ... synergy between the academy and the Pentagon ... finding the linkages between society, government, and the academy ... future of nuclear power ... changing relationship between the Pentagon and the economy ... reflections on secretaries of defense
3. National Security in Today's World ... fall of the Soviet Union ... managing the Nunn-Lugar process ... politics in U.S ... overcoming obstacles in the Soviet Union ... the role of personality ... interface between personality and structure
4. Thinking the Unthinkables ... implications of the 9/11 attack ... nuclear forensics ... evacuation ... applying rationality

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