Struggling to accept news of Ash Carter's death. Ash was the most brilliant person I have ever known. His insights, with @SecDef19, that the Soviet collapse meant that Russian weakness, not strength, was the greatest WMD threat, & that cooperation,...1/x politico.com/news/2022/10/2…
...not confrontation, was the solution, was crazy until it was necessary. I was fortunate to be along for that ride, which took me from @BelferCenter to #PNT to Kyiv, Moscow, Minsk, Almaty, Dniepropetrovsk, Sarov, Pervomaisk, Mayak, Severdovinsk, Shchuchye and so many other...2/x
...dots on the map of the post-Soviet WMD archipelago. We found shared goals to reduce these threats to humanity through cooperation. I was so privileged to be among those many government and private sector people who felt inspired to...3/x
...be able to make a difference. Ash placed his confidence in me to help make his #CTR vision real, which became a 30-year career for me, and an embedded tenet of #WMD policy and programming for @DeptofDefense, @NNSANews, @StateISN, @NTI_WMD, and so many other...4/x
...nations (@GPWMDofficial) and NGOs. How different and dangerous the world would have been without that initial crazy/necessary insight. 5/x
Ash supported and advanced women as long as I've known him, and his signature decisions opening all military roles to women and to trans people was not surprising to me but still made me very proud of him and his inclusive vision of national security. 6/x
In his post-Pentagon return to @BelferCenter, Ash reveled in his chance to shape the next generation of government leaders. I can only think of those now bereft of his guiding touch, his inspiration to service. My own service journey owes itself to Ash's vision, trust, ...7/x
...and drive toward meaningful outcomes, and to his example of how academia and government can inspire and empower each other toward lasting good. As deeply as I feel Ash's loss, I feel a responsibility - shared, I know, with so many others who he mentored and encouraged - ...8/x
...to embody his legacy and to strive for a safer and more secure world. What a leader. What a loss. What a legacy. Rest in power, Ash. You changed the world, and my world, for the better, and I am eternally grateful.
PS: This photo captures, for me, the joy with which Ash engaged with students, colleagues, friends, and others. What a fitting image to hold on to. 
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