James Gifford

COL James Gifford is a lecturer at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School, part of the National Defense University in Washington D.C. He has held key roles such as leading the Nuclear Wargaming team at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and advising on the Army Science Board’s 2023 nuclear battlefield study. His expertise spans military strategy, nuclear effects, and chemical engineering.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, United States Military Academy
• Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, Webster University
• Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University

Research Interests focus on nuclear weapon effects, thermodynamic modeling of fallout composition, chemical engineering, and wargaming applications in military strategy. His work bridges technical nuclear science with operational military planning.

Leadership and Professional Roles: Commissioned in 2001, COL Gifford served as a fire support officer in Iraq, taught gunnery at the Field Artillery School, and lectured at the United States Military Academy. Since 2013, he has specialized in nuclear and counter-WMD operations, including two assignments at DTRA.

Labs and Teams: He led the DTRA Nuclear Wargaming team, supporting over 30 military exercises with nuclear effects expertise, and contributed to the Army Science Board’s independent assessment of nuclear battlefield readiness.