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.
In the News
The 'Carrier Killer' Missile Russia Fired into a Ukrainian Apartment Building, Killing Dozens, is 'Notoriously Inaccurate' and Unpredictable, Intelligence and Experts Say
Ian Williams in Insider — January 18, 2023
Why U.S. HIMARS Rockets Are Becoming Increasingly Decisive for Ukraine
Ian Williams in TIME — January 5, 2023
Experts: North Korea's ICBMs Pose Preemption Challenges for US
Ian Williams in Voice of America — December 20, 2022
Patriot Missile Defense System Could Set Up Ukraine For Long Haul
Ian Williams in Newsweek — December 15, 2022
Experts: North Korea Testing ‘Monster’ ICBM Designed to Attack US
Ian Williams in Voice of America — November 9, 2022
Ukraine’s New Air Defense System Comes With a Deep Supply of Ammunition
Ian Williams in The New York Times — November 8, 2022
Can the U.S. Stop a Nuclear Attack? North Korea Tests Were Simulation
Ian Williams in Newsweek — November 7, 2022
North Korea’s ballistic missile barrage signals a potentially dangerous escalation
Ian Williams in Task and Purpose — November 2, 2022
All content by Ian Williams
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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

The Missile War in Yemen
Report by Ian Williams and Shaan Shaikh — June 9, 2020

America's Arctic Moment: Great Power Competition in the Arctic to 2050
Report by Ian Williams , Heather A. Conley , Nikos Tsafos , and Matthew Melino — March 30, 2020
