Deepti Choubey and John Carlson Join the NTI Team

Nuclear Threat Initiative Expands Team, Adding Deepti Choubey and Former Australian Official John Carlson

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Joan Rohlfing, president of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), today announced two additions to NTI. Deepti Choubey will be senior director for nuclear and biosecurity programs, beginning in November 2010. John Carlson, who left his post as director general of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office in late September, will counsel NTI on international nuclear security, safeguards and verification issues.

“We are honored that John will be joining us. His deep experience and international perspective will be extremely valuable to NTI’s work around the globe,” said former Senator Sam Nunn, NTI co-chairman. “Deepti has a great track record and will be a terrific addition to our team as we work to strengthen global security.”  

At NTI, Choubey will focus on nuclear security, as well as exploring ways of developing a new generation of leadership on nuclear issues in South Asia. She will also help expand NTI’s voice on bio-security. Most recently, Choubey served as deputy director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Prior to Carnegie, she was director of the Peace and Security Initiative for the Ploughshares Fund. Before joining Ploughshares, she worked for Ambassador Nancy Soderberg at the International Crisis Group. Choubey holds a MA from Columbia University and a BA from Harvard University.  

Based in Australia, Carlson will advise NTI leadership on international nuclear security, safeguards and verification, and management of the nuclear fuel cycle. He will also support NTI’s efforts in the Asia-Pacific region on nuclear security and arms reduction. 

Carlson has been an official in the Australian government for over four decades. In addition to his position as director general of the Australian Safeguards and Nonproliferation Office, he was appointed as chairman of the Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation by former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohammed ElBaradei and served from 2001 to 2006. He also served as Alternate Governor for Australia on the IAEA Board of Governors. Carlson is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and the founding chair of the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network. He is a fellow of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, and recipient of the Institute’s Distinguished Service Award.  

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