Steven Pifer

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Director, Arms Control Initiative | Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center on the United States and Europe, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence

Arms Control and the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election

Steven Pifer is director of the Brookings Arms Control Initiative and a senior fellow with the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence and the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. A former ambassador to Ukraine, Pifer’s career as a foreign service officer centered on Europe, the former Soviet Union and arms control. Pifer also had postings in London, Moscow, Geneva and Warsaw, as well as on the National Security Council. At Brookings, Pifer focuses on arms control, Ukraine and Russia issues. | View Full Bio

  • The Opportunity

    Featured Book

    The Opportunity

    Next Steps in Reducing Nuclear Arms

    2012, Steven Pifer and Michael E. O'Hanlon

    "The Opportunity offers a comprehensive, concise, and thoughtful explanation of the nuclear arms control challenges facing the next president. While some will disagree with Pifer and O’Hanlon’s specific recommendations, no one can fault the clarity and fairness of their analysis. This book will be a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and academics of all political persuasions.” – Ambassador Linton Brooks, chief U.S. negotiator, 1991 START I Treaty

Recent Activity

Refine by: Arms Control | Russia | Nuclear Weapons | Nonproliferation

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Expert Information

Contact

Email Steven Pifer

202.741.6520

202.797.6105 — Brookings Office of Communications

Resources

Expertise

  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • arms control
  • proliferation
  • missile defense
  • national security

Experience

Past Positions

  • Senior Adviser, Center for Strategic & International Studies (2006-2009)
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (2001-2004)
  • Visiting Scholar, Institute for International Studies, Stanford University (2000-01)
  • Ambassador to Ukraine (1998-2000)
  • Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, National Security Council (1996-97)
  • Prior assignments as a Foreign Service officer (1978-1995) included postings to the U.S. embassies in London, Moscow and Warsaw as well as with the U.S. delegation to the negotiation on intermediate-range nuclear forces in Geneva.

Education

  • B.A., Economics, Stanford University, 1976

Language Fluency

  • Russian
  • Ukranian

Upcoming Appearances

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Steven Pifer

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Topics

Geography