The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Transatlantic & International Security

A Lecture by Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, US Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programmes

1:00-2:00pm, 4th February 2010,
Committee Room 8, House of Commons

To attend, please RSVP to: george.grant@transatlanticsecurity.org

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Transatlantic & International Security is pleased to invite you to a discussion with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, US Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programmes.

Nuclear proliferation is one of the most pressing challenges confronting the international community at present. Armed with a nuclear bomb, rogue regimes such as North Korea and Iran can wield strategic and military influence wholly disproportionate to their size and diplomatic and military clout, altering the balance of power in a manner inconceivable when outcomes were decided by the wealth of nations and the size of their armies. Likewise terrorist organisations, if given possession of a nuclear weapon, have the potential to wreak destruction on a devastating scale. Moreover, where such non-state actors are concerned, the prospect of nuclear retaliation - hitherto the principle deterrent - becomes almost meaningless. Other more conventional threats to security also weigh on the mind of policy makers in this regard. The unregulated flow of small arms and light weapons are arming insurgencies around the world, sustaining civil conflict and perpetuating regional instability. Failed states provide opportunities to terrorists, and in this sense now affect our security more directly than ever before. In addition, new threats, such as cyber or space related methods of potential attack have emerged and will need to factor into strategies for threat reduction.

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins will be addressing the issue of global threat reduction and how to better coordinate our national and international response. During a distinguished political and diplomatic career, Ambassador Jenkins has built up a formidable expertise in the fields of both nuclear proliferation and arms control. She also has considerable experience in counter-terrorism having served, amongst other things, as counsel on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, more commonly known as the “9/11 Commission”.

Biography

Ambassador Jenkins currently serves as the State Department’s Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. Ambassador Jenkins most recently served as the Program Officer for U.S. Foreign and Security policy at the Ford Foundation. Her grant-making responsibilities sought to strengthen public engagement in US foreign and security policy debate and formulation, promoting support for multilateralism, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the international rule of law. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ambassador Jenkins served as counsel on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, more commonly known as the “9-11 Commission”. She was the lead Commission staff member on counterterrorism policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and on U.S. military plans targeting Al Qaeda prior to 9-11.

Ambassador Jenkins also served as General Counsel to the U.S. Commission to assess the organization of the federal government to combat proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and as a consultant to the 2000 National Commission on Terrorism. She also worked at the RAND Corporation in their National Security Division. A retired Naval Reserve Officer, she recently completed a year-long deployment to US Central Command (CENTCOM). She has received numerous awards in her time as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Ambassador Jenkins is an expert on arms control and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and she has served for nine years as legal advisor to U.S. Ambassadors and delegations negotiating arms control and nonproliferation treaties during her time as a Legal Advisor in the Office of General Council at the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

Ambassador Jenkins was a fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. She received a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Virginia; an LL.M. in international and comparative law from the Georgetown University Law Center; an MPA from the State University of New York at Albany; a J.D. from Albany Law School; and a BA from Amherst College. She also attended The Hague Academy for International Law. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the American Bar Association.

APPG Officers

Chair
Mrs Gisela Stuart MP

Vice Chairs
Mr Patrick Mercer MP
Mr Paul Keetch MP

Treasurer
Mr David Ruffley MP

Secretary
Mr Derek Twigg MP