In his role as a Principal R&D Systems Engineer in the Center for Global Security and Cooperation, Dr. Adam Williams is a subject matter expert (SME) on cyber-physical nuclear systems, complex risk for national security issues, and innovative solutions to uncertain global security challenges. Currently, he serves as the Global Security Strategic Studies lead for Sandia’s Cooperative Monitoring Center, leads
the development of Sandia’s Global Security University, provides strategic technical support for various U.S. sponsors (and R&D projects), and is the Nuclear Security & Physical Protection Technical Division chair for the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM).
Dr. Williams also leads and serves as an SME on U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Laboratory Directed Research and Development, Electric Power Research Institute, and Department of State (DOS) initiatives. His work has been published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), the Journal of Nuclear Materials Management, the Nuclear Science and Engineering journal, and the Nonproliferation Review. In addition to leading Sandia’s Nonproliferation Mentorship Program, Dr. Williams also supports Sandia’s nuclear security-related academic endeavors with Texas A&M University, the University of Texas, Abilene Christian University, Khalifa University of Science and Technology (UAE), and Kiev Polytechnic Institute (Ukraine).
In addition to recently serving as the Asia Regional Coordinator and as a founding member of the International Nuclear Security Engineering and Technology (INSET) team for NNSA’s Office of International Nuclear Security, Dr. Williams has served as the Sandia program manager for DOS. During his career at Sandia, he has conducted vulnerability assessments, designed physical protection systems, and planned a range of international security engagements for NNSA and DOS—including serving as project manager for the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Physical Protection lead assisting in the development of the Joint China/U.S. Center of Excellence in Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security.
Dr. Williams has a Ph.D. in Engineering Systems, Human-Systems Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2018). He also has an M.A. in International Affairs from the George Bush School of Government & Public Service (2007) and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (magna cum laude, 2004) from Texas A&M University.