Paul Amato is a nonresident senior fellow in the Forward Defense program of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. From 2016 to 2025, Amato served as director of nuclear deterrence policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he led all facets of nuclear policy development, implementation, and allied extended deterrence. He oversaw development of both the 2018 and 2022 Nuclear Posture Reviews and led implementation of decisions reflected in both reviews, in particular authoring secretary of defense-level guidance implementing presidential nuclear weapons employment policy.

Prior to his nuclear policy work, Amato served in the Pentagon and overseas in multiple roles focused on US national security policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As deputy head of mission for the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and later as director for rule of law at the US embassy in Islamabad, he helped build and lead high-impact teams navigating legal reform, civil sector development, and coalition diplomacy. Amato is a two-time recipient of the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Amato’s experience also includes more than a decade as a trial attorney, where he advised corporate clients on complex employment, compliance, and litigation matters. A retired US Marine Corps infantry Colonel, he had over twenty-eight years of active and reserve service. He is a two-time Bronze Star recipient, having planned civil and military operations in Iraq in 2004 and commanded US forces in Iraq in 2007 as the senior advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army infantry division. 

Amato is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.