The Stimson Center announced today that Richard T. Cupitt has been appointed as a Senior Associate and Director of the Center’s new Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention program. The Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention program supports the 1540 Committee at the United Nations by helping states increase their capacity to make more effective requests for assistance in order to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

“I am so pleased to welcome Rick to Stimson,” said Stimson President and CEO Brian Finlay. “From academia, to the U.N. and the Department of State, Rick has dedicated himself to public service. He boasts a record that has helped meaningfully shape systems and policies designed to prevent the world’s most dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. In joining the Center, he complements a growing team of innovators who are making the world a safer and more prosperous place.” 

Prior to joining Stimson, Cupitt served as the Special Coordinator for U.N. Security Council resolution 1540 in the Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives at the U.S. State Department from 2012 through 2016. As such, he led U.S. government efforts to further implementation of the more than two hundred legally binding obligations and recommendations of the resolution, which aims to combat proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery, especially to non-state actors such as terrorists and criminal organizations. After many years in academia and government specializing in international relations and export control, from 2005 to 2012 Cupitt worked as an Expert for the Committee established pursuant to U.N. Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), a subsidiary body of the U.N. Security Council. Cupitt has served as a consultant on projects including, for the U.S. State Department, U.S. national commissions, U.S. national nuclear laboratories, and several international organizations.

“The spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons is a threat to all,” said Richard T. Cupitt. “With an eye on the big picture, Stimson has long worked to improve the systems that prevent the spread of deadly weapons, which require constant attention to keep up with the ever evolving WMD proliferation challenges. It’s a thrill to join Brian, and the rest of the talented Stimson team, as we work to better equip states to meet these challenges now and in the future.”

The Stimson Center is a nonpartisan policy research center working to solve the world’s greatest threats to security and prosperity.

Contact: Jim Baird | [email protected] ; 202.478.3413