Rebecca Hersman, a member of the Senior Executive Service, was the Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). In this role, Ms. Hersman led more than 2,200 military and civilian experts operating in over 50 countries, and executed over $2.4B to provide the Department of Defense’s Service Components, Combatant Commands, the U.S. Interagency, and international partners with leading-edge capabilities to counter and deter adversary use of Weapons of Mass Destruction and emerging threats.
Prior to assuming her that position, Ms. Hersman served as the Director of the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) and senior adviser with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A leading expert on nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons policy; global health security; and crisis management, Ms. Hersman led the preeminent national program designed to develop next generation nuclear expertise. An author of numerous studies and reports on nuclear and chemical weapons policy, emerging technologies and strategic stability, and crisis management and decisionmaking, Ms. Hersman also co-chaired the CSIS U.S./UK/France Trilateral Dialogues on Nuclear Issues and served as a commissioner on the Center’s Commission on Strengthening America’s Health Security.