Octant Associates Senior WMD Subject Matter Expert Robert Wagner presents on “Nuclear Threat and Strategic Competition.” Wagner argues the U.S. has a worsening problem with nuclear threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, pointing out the “Doomsday Clock” is set at 90 seconds to midnight, or Armageddon. He calls for homeland security officials to take the lead in preparing the nation for a nuclear attack.
About the Speaker
Robert “Bob” Wagner is a Senior Weapons of Mass Destruction Subject Matter Expert at Octant Associates, LLC, where he supports the Cooperative Threat Reduction Directorate at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Collaterally, he is a Subject Matter Expert at the Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis Center. He is also a Hazardous Materials Specialist at the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System’s Indiana Task Force 1, a Radiation Specialist at the State of Indiana’s Radiation/Nuclear Detection Task Force, and a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Subject Matter Expert at L2 Defense, Inc. Previously, he was a Department of Army Civilian and a Private at the Indianapolis Fire Department.
Bob holds a Master of Arts Degree in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense) from the Naval Postgraduate School, and he is a Nationally Registered Paramedic. His thesis was completed in partnership with United States Northern Command, and it has been adapted into an article entitled “Saving Our Own: Urban Search and Rescue after a Domestic Nuclear Detonation” for the United States Army’s Countering WMD Journal. His primary area of research interest remains emergency response to a nuclear attack.
Professionally, Bob is passionate about teaching, writing, and public speaking. He has presented at outlets like the Fire Department Instructors Conference and CBRNe Summit USA, and he has published articles at The Strategy Bridge and The National Interest. He has also appeared on CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell and the More with Stumpo Podcast. He was recognized in 2019 by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for his contributions to drug law enforcement, and he was named the State of Indiana’s 2021 Fire Instructor of the Year by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association.
In his free time, Bob volunteers as a Wilderness Paramedic in Eastern Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. He is an avid mountaineer and whitewater rafter. He has a ten-year-old son named Mason and a one-eyed cat named Colonel Stauffenberg.
