Defense & Strategic Studies at Missouri State

Graduation is almost here! 🎓

The countdown is on as we prepare to celebrate the Class of 2026. This Friday, we mark all they’ve accomplished during their time with the School of Defense and Strategic Studies. We look forward to honoring their hard work, dedication, and the impact they’re ready to make.

We are proud to share the latest issue of Defense & Strategic Studies Online, featuring new work from our faculty and contributors on today’s most pressing global security topics.

You can find the Spring 2026 edition on the DASSO webpage at https://dss.missouristate.edu/papers.htm, or you can go directly to a PDF of the full issue here. Enjoy!

https://dss.missouristate.edu/_Files/MSU-DASSO-2026-Vol_2-No_3-COMPLETE.pdf

dss.missouristate.edu

An analytical essay by Professor Christopher Ford was recently published by the International Nuclear History and Research!

The piece examines the intersection of artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons, exploring implications for decision-making, escalation risks, and strategic stability, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining human judgment.

Guest Blog II: AI & Nuclear Weaponry Christopher A. Ford, Professor, School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University and former U.S. government official

Happy Spring from DSS🌸 Have you visited the cherry blossoms yet?

As attention turns to strengthening the defense industrial base, one critical question often gets overlooked: how do we power it?

DSS doctoral student Paul Schecklman sits down with Wilson Rickerson of Converge Strategies to examine the challenges facing the electric grid, future generation needs, and rising demand from compute, reshoring, and electrification.
Tune in for a timely conversation on why energy resilience is essential to deterring and defending U.S. interests.

S2 E6 Wilson Rickerson on Powering the Fight The Energy Behind Deterrence

We’re pleased to share another recent publication by Christopher Ford, incoming Director of the Department of Defense & Strategic Studies.

In a guest blog for the Institute for National Security Research, titled “US Claims of Secret Nuclear Testing & Implications,” Dr. Ford examines the strategic and arms control implications of recent U.S. allegations of covert nuclear testing.

Read the full piece:

Guest Blog: US Claims of Secret Nuclear Testing & Implications By Christopher A. Ford*

Now streaming: Glenn Borsky joins Adam Shusterman to discuss the security risks of AI-generated content—covering deepfakes, influence campaigns, and the rise of AI companion bots.

Listen on Substack, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Season 2 Episode 5: Glenn Borsky on The Security Risks of AI-Generated Content As artificial intelligence transforms the information environment, doctoral candidate Adam Shusterman sits down with cyber threat intelligence and OSINT expert Glenn Borsky to explore the real world security risks of AI-generated content.

We’re pleased to share that Dr. Christopher Ford, incoming Director of our program, has been published in The Foreign Service Journal.
In his article, “Negotiating Nuclear Security: A View from the First Trump Administration,” Dr. Ford reflects on his experience shaping nuclear security policy during the first Donald Trump administration, offering insight into the complexities of high-level strategic negotiations.

Read the full piece:

Negotiating Nuclear Security: A View from the First Trump Administration The role of diplomacy in setting the terms for America’s civil nuclear trade with other countries usually gets scant attention. Here’s why it’s important.

We’re proud to share a recent article in Global Security Review co-authored by Professor Curtis McGiffin, Col. (Ret) and Kirk Fansher, Col. (Ret).

In “Can Denmark Defend Greenland from Trump?” the authors examine the strategic realities surrounding Greenland and the defense posture of Denmark, highlighting broader questions of sovereignty, deterrence, and Arctic security amid renewed geopolitical tension.

Read the full article here:

Can Denmark Defend Greenland from Trump? The renewed attention on Greenland did not begin with Arctic ice melt or the quest for rare earth minerals. It began with discomfort, specifically, American discomfort with a long-standing Europea…