Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI)

MISSION STATEMENT

This office will take the lead in developing, implementing, and improving counterproliferation efforts, such as the Proliferation Security Initiative or other efforts to interdict or deny shipments of WMD, and their means of delivery, and promoting observance of UN Security Council Resolution 1540. It will build a direct relationship with the new National Counterproliferation Center, the CIA’s Suppliers and Interdiction Group, and other intelligence organizations as appropriate. It will chair the Nuclear Interdiction Action Group (NIAG), will support the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterproliferation in his role as the Department’s representative at NSC-chaired interdiction meetings held pursuant to Presidential Directive, and will provide support as needed to the Sanctions Coordinator in the ISN Front Office in order to ensure the successful coordination of sanctions policy and its effective coordination with overall counterproliferation efforts. To this end, the office will receive support from, coordinate efforts of, and provide guidance to, other offices as necessary (including the missile, chemical and biological interdiction groups) for these meetings. It will lead policy development to attack the trade in nuclear materials (nuclear smuggling), and coordinate closely with CTR as the lead ISN office for securing facilities and materials worldwide. It will also coordinate closely with WMDT, MNSA, and ECC on relevant issues of counterproliferation policy. It also will work closely with White House offices and other agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Justice, and with the Intelligence Community, to develop and implement appropriate diplomatic, defense, law enforcement, and rapid response options, and other international measures designed to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Key missions of the office include:

Promoting, Developing, and Operationalizing the Proliferation Security Initiative: Officers will blend both policy and operational efforts to enable the U.S. and its PSI partners to effectively implement the Initiative, including by maintaining the ability to respond in a flexible and timely manner to information of proliferation-related transfers. Key functions will include: 1) supporting the ISN PDAS’ participation in NSC-chaired interdiction meetings and facilitating diplomatic support for interdiction activities; 2) developing and conducting diplomatic outreach to prospective participants, and broadening and deepening support among PSI participants; 3) leading negotiation of ship-boarding and other relevant international agreements and understandings; 4) facilitating State support to the PSI operational experts meetings; 5) evolving efforts in coordination with the Department of Treasury to deny or impede material or other support to proliferation efforts, including implementation of Executive Order 13382 relating to proliferation financing, and activities of the Egmont Group; 6) promoting coordination and cooperation among law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies as part of the expansion of the work of the PSI to shut down proliferation networks; and 7) drafting of relevant sections of nonproliferation reports to Congress in coordination with the Sanctions Coordinator in the ISN/Front Office and with other offices.

Implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540: Officers will be responsible for sustaining the obligations UN member states have undertaken in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1540. Key functions will include: 1) working with USUN to oversee the work of the UNSC 1540 Committee to ensure it remains focused on reviewing implementation of 1540 requirements; 2) responding to requests for assistance, and, in this regard, developing proposals for bilateral or multilateral technical assistance, in cooperation with relevant USG programs, to assist countries to meet their 1540 requirements; 3) working with other Security Council members to maintain political attention and focus on implementation of UNSCR 1540 and coordinating closely with the other ISN offices that provide guidance to U.S. representatives to those bodies and organizations and matters of proliferation generally; 4) tracking activities of multilateral bodies or organizations (e.g., IAEA, OPCW, OSCE, NSG, and MTCR) that may decide or desire to become involved in work facilitating the implementation of UNSCR 1540; and 5) coordinate closely with ECC – the lead ISN office for developing and implementing U.S. contributions to building programs in this respect (e.g., providing equipment and technical expertise, or drafting regulations) – to achieve concrete implementation of 1540 standards.

Developing Regional and Functional Counterproliferation Strategies and Evolving other Counterproliferation effort: Officers will be responsible for developing tailored counterproliferation strategies, both on an actor-specific and a category-specific basis. Key functions will include: 1) developing, in coordination with White House offices and appropriate Federal agencies, tailored counterproliferation strategies against leading proliferators; 2) developing, in coordination with White House offices and appropriate Federal agencies, tailored strategies to counter the disparate threats posed by acquisition by entities, states of concern, and non-state actors of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high explosive weapons; and 3) building bilateral cooperative operational efforts with countries that are willing to cooperate but are not currently participants in the PSI; 4) leading bilateral diplomatic efforts, including via demarches and strategic dialogues, to deny or impede WMD and missile-related proliferation activities; and 5) undertaking efforts to identify, target and shut down black markets and other proliferation trading networks, including via close coordination with intelligence and law enforcement agencies; 6) identifying loopholes exploited by proliferators and developing cross-cutting strategies to close them.

Developing Outreach to Industry: One or more officers will be responsible for developing and conducting outreach to all sectors of the economy that could support trade in WMD. Key functions will include: 1) educating industry regarding the PSI and other counterproliferation initiatives; 2) developing and promoting opportunities for voluntary participation in efforts to partner with industry to address the threat of WMD proliferation; and 3) coordinating these efforts with other relevant USG agencies.

Acting Director: Tony Foley