Ian Williams

Ian Williams is a fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and deputy director of the Missile Defense Project, specializing in missile defense and strategic forces, missile proliferation, and deterrence. He is also managing editor of the CSIS website Missile Threat, an online clearinghouse for information and analysis on missile proliferation and missile defense systems. Ian has authored major CSIS studies on U.S. homeland missile defense, nuclear proliferation, and the use of missiles in the Yemeni civil war. He has also written extensively on Iranian and North Korean missile programs, Chinese strategic forces and military strategy, and NATO’s missile defense architecture. Ian has made numerous appearances on global news programs, including ABC, NBC, CNN, NPR, and the BBC. His commentary has appeared in newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Newsweek, and others.
During his graduate studies, Ian directed research at the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. He interned at the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at National Defense University and the Arms Control Association. He holds a B.A. from Southern Illinois University and an M.S. in defense and strategic studies from Missouri State University, where he studied arms control, WMD proliferation, missile defense, and nuclear strategy. In 2014, Ian completed his master’s thesis, “Future Directions for the Proliferation Security Initiative.” Before entering the international security field, Ian worked in international education, living for extensive periods in Russia, Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. He also served for six years as an engineer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
In the News
Report Finds 90 Percent of Russia's Projectile Weapons Failed in May
Ian Williams in Newsweek — May 31, 2023
Report Finds 90 Percent of Russia's Projectile Weapons Failed in May
Ian Williams in Newsweek — May 31, 2023
Drone Strike in Moscow Brings Ukraine War Home to Russians
Ian Williams in The New York Times — May 30, 2023
The potential fallout from drone attacks in Moscow
Ian Williams in Vox — May 30, 2023
The potential fallout from drone attacks in Moscow
Ian Williams in Vox — May 30, 2023
Don’t Buy Putin’s Hypersonic Missile Hype
Ian Williams in Bloomberg — May 27, 2023
Don’t Buy Putin’s Hypersonic Missile Hype
Ian Williams in Bloomberg — May 27, 2023
Russia’s missile attacks on Ukraine have been ineffective
Ian Williams in The Economist — May 26, 2023
All content by Ian Williams
Filter by
Putin’s Missile War
Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Ian Williams — May 24, 2023

Putin’s Missile War
Report by Ian Williams — May 5, 2023
Russia Doubles Down on Its Failed Air Campaign
Commentary by Ian Williams — October 13, 2022
North America Is a Region, Too
Report by Tom Karako , Ian Williams , Wes Rumbaugh , Ken Harmon , and Matthew Strohmeyer — July 14, 2022
Boost-Phase Missile Defense: Interrogating the Assumptions
Event by Tom Karako , Ian Williams , Masao Dahlgren , Lt Gen Trey Obering (USAF, ret.) , and Dr. Dean Wilkening — June 24, 2022
Boost-Phase Missile Defense
Report by Ian Williams , Masao Dahlgren , Thomas G. Roberts , and Tom Karako — June 24, 2022
Eyes Everywhere: Intelligence and Strategic Decisionmaking in the Gray Zone
Commentary by Ian Williams — November 23, 2021
Tracking Missile Threats
Commentary by Ian Williams — August 12, 2021
Geopolitical Implications of Scientific Innovation Trends in Northeast Asia
Event by and Seth G. Jones , Chris Fall , Kaitlyn Johnson , Ian Williams , Andrew Philip Hunter , Park In-kook , Boo Suk-Jung , Lee Guenwook , Kim Yoon , Dr. Jason Matheny , Shin Changhwan — June 18, 2021
Online Event: International Security at the Nuclear Nexus (Day 2)
Event by Tom Karako , Ian Williams , Eric Brewer , Lindsey R. Sheppard , and Rebecca Hersman — October 22, 2020