Robert S Litwak

Robert S. Litwak is a Research Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) at George Washington University. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President and Director of International Security Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and held roles such as Director for Nonproliferation on the National Security Council staff. He is a consultant to Los Alamos National Laboratory and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. His research focuses on nuclear proliferation, international security dynamics, and strategic competition among major powers.

Education: PhD in Political Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and a BA from Haverford College.

His publications analyze nuclear crises involving North Korea, Iran, and the evolving tripolar rivalry between the U.S., Russia, and China. He emphasizes policy frameworks for managing nuclear risks and nonproliferation challenges. Litwak is affiliated with the Council on Foreign Relations and has held visiting fellowships at Harvard, Oxford, and the Russian Academy of Sciences.