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Barry Blechman (1943-2025)

Barry Blechman died on June 27, 2025, at his home in Washington, D.C., at the age of 81, surrounded by his children and life partner. The cause was cancer. His death was mourned widely in the national security community. The Stimson Center described him as a "visionary for peace and security" whose "fierce, lifelong commitment to making the world a safer place was irrepressible." Colleagues like Daryl G. Kimball of the Arms Control Association and Barbara Slavin highlighted his leadership and mensch-like qualities.

With over 50 years of distinguished service in government and the private sector, Barry Blechman was an expert on nuclear policy, the defense budget, and the role of the armed forces in supporting the nation's foreign policy. Blechman was a lifelong advocate for reducing nuclear dangers and promoting a more peaceful world, earning respect across political lines as a Democrat whose insights were valued by figures like former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld.

He advocated for and helped implement measures to reduce the risk of nuclear war, eventually leading the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency during the Carter administration."A brilliant, energetic, and kind man with a tenacious commitment to achieving American security while honoring its values," former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recalled about Blechman, her colleague and friend.

As co-founder of the Stimson Center, Blechman created a platform for pragmatic, nonpartisan solutions to urgent global issues. He also served as chairman of Stimson's Board from 1989 to 2007 and returned to the Board in 2014. Blechman's leadership advanced the work of many defense and nuclear experts at the Stimson Center and far beyond, and his legacy will continue to inform research and policy in these critical areas.

Born in 1943, Blechman earned a Ph.D. in international relations from Georgetown University. He taught at several universities and began his career in public service, working in the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, as well as the Office of Management and Budget. During the Carter Administration (1977-1981), he served as Assistant Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, a role to which he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter and confirmed by Congress.Career Highlights

• Government and Advisory Roles: Blechman advised multiple U.S. administrations and commissions. He served on the Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States (1998-1999), the Defense Policy Board (2002-2006), the District of Columbia's Mayor's Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program Advisory Committee (2004-2006), and the Department of State Advisory Committee on Transformational Diplomacy (2005-2008).
• Think Tank Leadership: In 1989, Blechman co-founded the Stimson Center (now known as the Stimson Center) with Michael Krepon. He chaired its Board from 1989 to 2007 and rejoined in 2014 as a Distinguished Fellow, focusing on nuclear disarmament. The organization credits him with shaping its mission toward innovative, practical solutions for global security challenges.
• Private Sector: He founded and led DFI International, a successful consulting firm specializing in defense and foreign policy issues.
• Publications and Scholarship: Blechman authored or edited over 20 books and nearly 200 articles, op-eds, and blog posts. His final book, Military Coercion and US Foreign Policy (co-authored with Melanie Sisson and James Siebens), was published by Routledge in 2020. He contributed to outlets like Breaking Defense and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, often analyzing topics such as the effectiveness of military deployments in diplomacy and pathways to nuclear disarmament. In June 2025, just weeks before his death, he participated in a Stimson Center event discussing "A Future Without Nuclear Weapons" with Ward Wilson.

Blechman was also involved in the Consensus for American Security project through the American Security Project, where he contributed to efforts on defense reform and security policy.Personal Life and HealthBlechman enjoyed sports like handball and squash, often followed by a dry martini. In late 2024, facing a diagnosis of metastatic bladder cancer, he sought palliative care involving psilocybin (the psychoactive component of magic mushrooms) at a clinic in Bend, Oregon. He credited the experience with alleviating his anxiety and depression, providing profound insights into his personality and relationships. This was part of a growing trend in psychedelic-assisted therapy for end-of-life care.

An obituary by Joshua Pollack in Arms Control Wonk recalled Blechman as a mentor alongside Jonathan Pollack. Obituaries appeared in The Washington Post and other outlets, emphasizing his bipartisan influence and dedication to nuclear nonproliferation. Blechman's legacy endured through the Stimson Center's ongoing work and his extensive body of scholarship, which continues to inform debates on global security.