Mr. Jerry A. Taylor is the Director of the Office of Strategic Affairs, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. As the Director, he is responsible for ensuring the verifiability of all arms control and nonproliferation agreements and commitments related to strategic nuclear forces, intermediate-range nuclear forces, ballistic missile proliferation, and related issues as they are being formulated and negotiated. He also leads strategic engagement with foreign governments through the formulation, adoption, negotiation, and oversight of policy initiatives and other measures that improve strategic stability. Specific treaties for which his office has responsibility include the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the New START Treaty.
Mr. Taylor entered federal civil service immediately upon retirement from the U.S. Army in 1995 and assumed the duties as the Director of the Strategic Treaties Implementation Task Force in the Office of Verification and Compliance, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. In this capacity he was responsible for the technical guidance and direction in policy to ensure the proper management, planning, and execution of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency mission related to strategic arms control treaty verification, compliance and implementation. Prior to assuming the duties of Director for Strategic Affairs, Mr. Taylor served as the Department of State Special Advisor for Verification to the INF and START Treaty implementing commissions in Geneva. From October 2005 until its expiration in December 2009, Mr. Taylor served as the U.S. Representative to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, (START).
Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1970 from Hendrix College in Conway Arkansas, where he also received a Regular Army Commission as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery in the U.S. Army. In 1981, Mr. Taylor received his Master of Arts in Personnel Management from Webster University in Kansas City, Missouri. During his military service, he held numerous jobs in operation and command assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division, 2d Infantry Division, 1st Armored Division, Army Staff and Joint Chiefs of Staff.
During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Mr. Taylor commanded the 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, which deployed to Saudi Arabia during August 1990 with the 82d Airborne Division. Following the conclusion of Desert Storm, Mr. Taylor returned to the United States and attended the National War College where he received a Diploma of National Strategic Studies. Mr. Taylor’s last assignment on active duty was with the Nuclear Arms Control Division, J-5, Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the Chief of the Nuclear Treaties Branch where he was the Chairman’s Representative to the INF and START Treaty Implementing Commissions in Geneva, Switzerland.
A member of the Senior Executive Service, Mr. Taylor’s awards and Decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Ribbon, Civilian Superior Performance Award, Civilian Superior Honor Award, Department of State Meritorious Honor Award, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Staff Identification Badge, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
