On Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:05 p.m. ET, the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense program will host a virtual conversation with General Thomas A. Bussiere, commander of the US Air Force Global Strike Command, on the command’s role in preserving strategic deterrence.

The United States faces a challenging strategic environment, contending with a coalition of revisionist, nuclear-armed autocratic adversaries intent on dismantling the rules-based international order and disrupting the balance of power in regions crucial to US national security and prosperity. These risks are compounded by a US nuclear modernization program that has been long delayed and now has little to no margin for error. Responsible for providing combat-ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of the US combatant commands, Air Force Global Strike Command is at the center of these challenges.

In conversation with Michael R. Gordon, national security correspondent at the Wall Street Journal, Bussiere will provide insights into how the United States can sustain credible nuclear deterrence in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. He will also discuss the command’s role in ensuring the readiness, resilience, and modernization of US nuclear forces.

The event will be livestreamed on Atlantic Council TV, YouTube, Facebook, and X.  To join us virtually, please complete the registration form.