Mr. John P. Caves, Jr. is a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University. He joined the Center in 2003 and served as Deputy Director from June 2013 to April 2019 and additionally as Acting Director from August 2018 – February 2019. Mr. Caves did a one-year detail assignment to National Intelligence University (NIU) as an NIU Presidential Scholar from November 2019 – November 2020. Nuclear and chemical weapons threats have been the primary focus of his work.

Prior to joining the Center, Mr. Caves served as the Deputy Director for Counterproliferation Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). From 1997 to 1999, he was the Country Director for Turkey, Spain, and Cyprus in the Office of European Policy, OSD. From 1993 to 1997, he served as Deputy Director for Plans, Defense Security Assistance Agency (DSAA). He held a variety of other positions withinDSAA from 1986 to 1993, including Chief, Program Analysis Division; and Country Manager, Europe Division. In 1985, he addressed nuclear weapons policy issues in the Office of the Defense Adviser, U.S. Mission to NATO. Mr. Caves twice has been awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. He also received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service and the OSD Special Act Award. Mr. Caves received his Master of Public Affairs degree in International Relations from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He also holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College and Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College, where he majored in Political Science.