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THREAT REDUCTION AND ARMS CONTROL

Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control (DASD(TRAC)) fulfills Congressionally and Departmentally mandated responsibilities related to treaty management, the Chemical Demilitarization Program, the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) capability development, and radiological and nuclear defense. ODASD(TRAC) is a component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs (OASD(ND-CBD)), which reports to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)).

Our Vision and Mission

Vision: Ensure the Department of Defense is optimally positioned to reduce chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and conventional threats.


Mission: Deliver radiological/nuclear defense and counterproliferation capabilities to the warfighter, and strengthen the implementation of nonproliferation programs and agreements to increase lethality and protect the Homeland.

LEADERSHIP

Ms. Cassie Simmons-Brown photo
ncb seal

Ms. Cassie Simmons-Brown

Performing the Duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control

Photo Biography

TRAC Spotlight


2025 Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference

SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES






CORE FUNCTIONS

ODASD(TRAC) achieves its mission through three core functions:


Integration
  • TRAC serves as a nexus for the Department’s CWMD and threat reduction efforts, creating linkages between and among strategic, operational, and tactical actions; policymakers and implementers; technology developers and end users; nonproliferation, counterproliferation, and defense mission areas; and across the nuclear, chemical, and biological defense communities
  • TRAC directorates coordinate with one another and with key stakeholders across the Department and with interagency, industry, and international partners to identify and leverage synergies within, between, and among various CWMD and threat reduction activities
  • TRAC leverages expertise, maximizes use to resources, and improves execution and outcomes of CWMD and threat reduction programs and activities
Sponsorship
  • TRAC focuses on realizing CWMD capabilities by managing and allocating congressionally appropriate resources; championing and advocating for solutions to fill capability gaps; and facilitating the success of other DoD programs and activities
  • TRAC encourages the use of innovative, flexible, and rapid acquisition processes to develop operational systems, concentrating on bridging the “valley of death” between early stage research and fielded CWMD capabilities
Oversight
  • TRAC’s oversight activities provide accountability to the Secretary of Defense, Congress, and the public by ensuring programs and activities are being executed:
    • Legally (in accordance with law);
    • Effectively (in line with DoD strategic guidance, policy, and requirements); and
    • Efficiently (on track to meet milestones while minimizing duplications of effort and cost)

OFFICE OVERVIEW

TM Directorate

Treaty Management Directorate

ODASD(TRAC) is the DoD Treaty Manager for all chemical, biological, nuclear, and conventional treaties. The Treaty Management Directorate:

  • Strengthens arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation efforts and enhances confidence-building and security measures by ensuring effective implementation of and compliance with the following treaties and agreements:
    • Chemical: Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
    • Biological: Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
    • Nuclear: Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Safeguards Agreements, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protocols, Test Ban Treaties including the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
    • Conventional: Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, Vienna Document 2011, others
  • Coordinates among DoD Components all actions regarding treaty implementation and compliances, meets reporting deadlines, and conforms DoD practices to U.S. policy
  • Works directly with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Joint Staff, and other DoD and interagency partners to ensure U.S. policies and agreements, weapons, and doctrine are compliant with U.S. treaty agreements
The Chemical Demilitarization

Chemical Demilitarization Directorate

  • Strengthens nonproliferation and disarmament efforts by ensuring the safe and timely destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile while meeting the CWC and providing maximum protection of the workforce, the public, and the environment
  • Oversees the Chemical Demilitarization Program (CDP), which is this nation’s response to the mandate of public law and commitments under the CWC for the elimination of the stockpile of chemical agents and munitions
  • Ensures acquisition management tools are used to control cost, schedule, and performance parameters during the closure phase of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program
WMDTR

WMD Threat Reduction Directorate

  • Strengthens nonproliferation and counterproliferation efforts by ensuring the effectiveness of DoD programs to enhance the CWMD capabilities of allies and partners
  • Oversees the implementation of WMD threat reduction programs and activities executed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, including:
    • DoD Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
    • International Counterproliferation Program
    • CWMD Security Cooperation Program
    • Proliferation Security Initiative
  • Enables execution of threat reduction programs to operationalize priorities established by OUSD(Policy) and ensures value by providing transparent accountability and oversight
Chemical and Biological Weapons Elimination (CBWE)

Chemical and Biological Weapons Elimination Directorate

  • Strengthens disarmament, nonproliferation, and counterproliferation efforts by ensuring DoD readiness to eliminate chemical and biological weapons regardless of size, location, or environment
  • Conducts its mission across three lines of effort:
    • Assessment to ensure DoD maintains adequate materiel readiness;
    • Engagement to leverage partnerships in support of CBWE activities and to promote improvement of capabilities across the DOTMLPF-P spectrum; and
    • Oversight to ensure long-term availability of CBW elimination capabilities
Counterproliferation Special Projects

Counterproliferation Special Projects Directorate

  • Strengthens counterproliferation capabilities by resourcing and advocating for advanced R&D to enable the DoD CWMD Enterprise to conduct, support, or facilitate active, full-spectrum pathway defeat and WMD Defeat missions
  • OSD uses the CP Special Projects to invest strategically in projects across all DoD components with assigned CWMD missions
  • Investments respond to validated, prioritized requirements from functional and geographic combatant commands, combat support agencies, defense agencies, the Services, and interagency partners
Radiological and Nuclear Defense

Radiological and Nuclear Defense

  • Strengthens nuclear deterrence and counterproliferation efforts by resourcing and advocating for innovative technologies to enable effective defenses against radiological and nuclear threats to the Joint Force
  • Prevents nuclear attacks on the homeland and ensures the Joint Force can survive, campaign, and prevail in an R/N environment by fielding modernized detection and identification capabilities
  • Invests in validated requirements such as RND prototypes for capability development and sustainment, and purchase R/N equipment to support the National Guard