Frank G. Klotz

Frank G. Klotz
Adjunct Senior Fellow
Off Site Office

Education

DPhil in politics, Oxford University; MPhil in international relations, Oxford University; BS in international affairs, U.S. Air Force Academy

Overview

Lt Gen Frank Klotz (USAF, Ret) is an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation. From April 2014 to January 2018, he served as the Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. In this Senate-confirmed position, he was responsible for the U.S. Department of Energy’s wide-ranging scientific and technical activities to maintain an effective U.S. nuclear deterrent and to reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. While on active duty, he served in several senior military posts, including the first Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director of the Air Staff, Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command; the National Security Council staff, Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and Defense Plans Officer at the U.S. Mission to NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Following his retirement from active duty in 2011, he became a senior fellow for strategic studies and arms control at the Council on Foreign Relations. A distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he attended the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, where he earned an M.Phil. in international relations and a D.Phil. in politics. He is also a graduate of the National War College.

Commentary

  • Arms Proliferation and Control

    Hard Times for U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control

    New START is slated to expire in February 2026 and cannot be extended. The next chapter in U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control, if there is to be one, may not be written until rulers in Moscow ease repression at home, pull troops out of Ukraine, and recognize the mutual benefits of reducing, rather than stoking, nuclear tensions.

    Aug 28, 2023

    Defense News

  • Satellites

    How to Avoid a Space Arms Race

    Some 70 countries and multinational organizations own or operate satellites and there are plans for many more. Multilateral cooperative efforts could help set a foundation for the adoption of transparency and confidence measures that offer realistic hope of reducing risks and protecting freedom of access to space for all nations.

    Oct 26, 2020

    The Hill

  • Nuclear Deterrence

    Negotiating with Great Powers on Nuclear Arms

    New START, the U.S.-Russia arms control treaty, expires in February 2021. Washington insists that any follow-on accord must include China. But overcoming Beijing's reticence to engage in nuclear talks will likely take deft diplomacy, time, and patience.

    Aug 3, 2020

    RealClearDefense

  • Nuclear Weapons and Warfare

    Nuclear Testing Not Needed Now

    Trump administration officials are reported to have recently discussed conducting a nuclear test, breaking a moratorium the United States has observed since 1992. Such a move is not necessary to ensure the reliability of the U.S. arsenal and could increase threats to U.S. and allied security by giving a green light to others to conduct nuclear tests.

    Jun 11, 2020

    Newsweek

Publications