Tom Karako

Senior Fellow, International Security Program and Director, Missile Defense Project
Tom Karako

Thomas Karako is a senior fellow with the International Security Program and the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he arrived in 2014. His research focuses on national security, missile defense, nuclear deterrence, and public law. In 2010–2011, he was an American Political Science Association congressional fellow, working with the professional staff of the House Armed Services Committee and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces on U.S. strategic forces policy, nonproliferation, and NATO. Dr. Karako is also currently a fellow with the Institute for Politics and Strategy of Carnegie Mellon University. He received his PhD from Claremont Graduate University and his BA from the University of Dallas.

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Missile Defense in Israel: A Conversation with Moshe Patel

Please join the CSIS Missile Defense Project for a conversation on air and missile defense with Moshe Patel, Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO). The talk will be moderated by Dr. Tom Karako.

Event by Moshe Patel and Tom Karako — May 30, 2023

Missile Defense at 40

Please join the CSIS Missile Defense Project and the Ronald Reagan Institute for a daylong conference on the past and future of missile defense.

    Event by Tom Karako — March 24, 2023

    Patriot to Ukraine: What Does It Mean?

    The United States' plans to send Patriot air and missile defenses to Ukraine demonstrates a strong political commitment to defend Ukraine and modestly improves Ukrainian air defense, but incurs costs on U.S. air defense capacity and readiness.

    Critical Questions by Mark F. Cancian and Tom Karako — December 16, 2022

    The 2022 Missile Defense Review

    CSIS Missile Defense Project conversation on the newly released Missile Defense Review with Dr. John F. Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy.

    Event by Tom Karako and Dr. John F. Plumb — November 4, 2022

    Press Briefing: Analyzing the 2022 National Defense Strategy

    The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted a press briefing on October 27, at 2:00 p.m. ET analyzing the 2022 National Defense Strategy.

    Event by Seth G. Jones , Max Bergmann , Emily Harding , Tom Karako , Mark F. Cancian , and Kathleen McInnis — October 27, 2022

    The Truth of the Matter

    Russia’s Missile Plan

    CSIS’s Tom Karako joins the podcast to discuss Russia’s missile arsenal, what they are prepared to do with it, and the implications of Iran’s role.

    Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Tom Karako — October 21, 2022

    CSIS the truth of the matter

    Homeland Cruise Missile Defense

    A full-day conference on homeland cruise missile defense hosted by CSIS Missile Defense Project.

    Event by Tom Karako , Wes Rumbaugh , Peppi DeBiaso , and Matthew Strohmeyer — July 14, 2022