Elizabeth (Libby) Turpen
Senior Associate
Dr. Elizabeth (Libby) Turpen is co-director of the Cooperative Nonproliferation Program at the Stimson Center. Dr. Turpen brings Senate experience and a background in national security, nuclear weapons and nonproliferation issues to the Center. Dr. Turpen's previous employment was with Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) as a legislative assistant responsible for defense, nonproliferation and foreign affairs. Prior to coming to Washington in 1998, she was a consultant on nonproliferation policy, US-Russia programs, and the national security implications of technological advances for a high tech company. She has served on a Council on Foreign Relations task force on non-lethal weapons and an advisory board for the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. Dr. Turpen has taught at Georgetown University, and has extensive teaching and lecturing experience. She is currently an adjunct professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Dr. Turpen holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and graduated summa cum laude with a BA from the University of New Mexico.
The Cooperative Nonproliferation Program encourages US and international action to secure WMD materials, dismantle existing weapons and develop the capacities necessary to effectively govern dual-use technologies. Building on a program of research, analysis, and public education, the project also seeks to leverage the private sector as a solution provider to existing proliferation challenges. In addition, the program is working to bridge the development-security divide in support of sustainable implementation of nonproliferation and counterproliferation measures.
Selected Publications
Leveraging Science for Security: A Strategy for the Nuclear Weapons Laboratories in the 21st Century (The Henry L. Stimson Center, 2009)
The Next 100 Project: Leveraging National Security Assistance to Meet Developing World Needs (The Henry L. Stimson Center and The Stanley Foundation, 2009)
UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Part II: The Caribbean States: A Case Study(WMD Insights, August 2008)
Old Plagues, New Threats: The Biotech Revolution and its Impact on National Security(The Henry L. Stimson Center, 2008)
Cooperative Nonproliferation: Getting Further, Faster (The Henry L. Stimson Center, 2007)
“25 Steps to Preventing Nuclear Terror: A Guide to Policymakers” (The Henry L. Stimson Center, 2007)
Cooperative Threat Reduction: Moving Beyond State Intent (Dalhousie University, 2005)
Policy Matters: Educating Congress on Peace and Security (The Henry L. Stimson Center, 2004)
