Dr. Amy J. Nelson
I am a foreign policy researcher focused on nuclear risk, artificial intelligence, and strategic stability. My work examines how states manage deterrence, escalation, and crisis decision-making under conditions of deep uncertainty and technological acceleration.
I lead the Future Security Scenarios Lab at New America, where we apply scenario planning and systems thinking to anticipate structural risks in nuclear stability, AI-enabled military systems, and emerging security technologies.
My research analyzes the evolution of arms control, export controls, and governance frameworks for sensitive technologies. I study how digital acceleration and interpretive overload affect crisis stability and nonproliferation, and I develop adaptive institutional approaches designed to strengthen resilience in ambiguous strategic environments.