It is not easy for me to think about my friend Bruce Blair's death last July. It was completely unexpected and came far too early. It has not only left an important void in a crucial chapter of his life’s work — Global Zero — but it also comes as a blow to the worldwide arms control community.
Bruce was one of a kind. Having famously worked as a U.S. Air Force launch officer in a missile silo at the height of the Cold War, he internalized that experience over the next five decades of his life to become perhaps the world’s leading expert on the danger of accidental nuclear war. During this long journey, at both first-rate universities and think tanks, he emerged as an articulate, energetic, and passionate leader in the international campaign to not only curb the nuclear arms race, but to eliminate nuclear weapons altogether.
Global Zero was the capstone of Bruce’s life-long effort. As the founder, along with Matt Brown, of the initiative, he recruited hundreds of former officials, retired military officers, and experts from around the world to produce truly groundbreaking analyses of nuclear risks and strategies for reducing them. At the same time, he established a Global Zero presence at universities on every continent in an effort to get young people engaged in his vision.
It was — and is — a truly remarkable effort, underscoring how much can be achieved by a single individual with the dedication, drive and focus to make the world better. In one of our last conversations, Bruce spoke, as he nearly always did, about his optimistic belief that Global Zero could make a big difference in reducing the worldwide proliferation of nuclear weapons and limiting the risk of nuclear use.
It is with that same spirit of conviction and optimism that I accept my new role as President of the Board of Directors. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Bruce and his remarkable life’s work than ensuring that Global Zero remains a force for stability and peace in a volatile world. This is especially true with Joe Biden’s election as the 46th President of the United States. My only regret is that Bruce did not live to see what I hope will be the beginning of a new era of arms control and disarmament.
Sincerely,
Ambassador Richard Burt
President, Global Zero |
