Marshal White

Professor Christina Giarrusso

9 October 2016
ENC2135
Topic Proposal
1. Your research question
My current question for my research paper is, What changes should be made to the Nuclear
Weapons Program of the United States based on the humanitarian, ethical, environmental,
economic, and security risks of the current regime.
2. Working title
The working title for my research paper is, Abolish or be Demolished: An Analysis of the
Nuclear Weapons Program of the United States I chose this topic because of my position as a
member of the Naval ROTC program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. As a
midshipman in the program, I have access to Nuclear Warfare Officers that operate and
command nuclear submarines in the United States Navy and have gained a unique perspective
based on the information they have given me as well as information from the numerous guest
speakers that present in our program.
3. Project Summary
I plan to research the current Nuclear Weapons Program of the United States and analyze how
the current program could pose potential risks to the following areas: The global population, the
global environment, the national and global economy, the national and global security risks, etc.
By researching this area, I hope to come to a conclusion on the path that our country should take
in order to best protect its peoples safety and liberty.
Some key terms in this project are, but are not limited to: domestic, foreign, radioactive,
terrorism, Nuclear Weapon States, High Alert
Some questions that will guide me in my research:

How expensive is the current Nuclear Weapons Program?

What economic threats does the current program pose?
What are the environmental disadvantages of the current Nuclear Weapons Program?
Why are Nuclear Weapons ethically reprehensible?
Why are Nuclear Weapons necessary for the military of The United States and other
countries around the world?
How do Nuclear Weapons combat / promote terrorism and how do they support /
threaten the security of The United States?

4. Project Purpose
The Nuclear Weapons Program is a pertinent topic for me as a midshipman of The United States
Navy. As a future Naval Officer, I will be in charge of the lives of many sailors deployed
overseas on a ship or possible in a Nuclear Submarine. This topic could be directly related to my
career depending on which Unrestricted Line Community I decided to commission into. I believe
it would be important to understand the consequences and ramifications of using Nuclear
Weapons if I am to wield them in the defense of our nation.
5. Key Challenges
My biggest challenge in creating this research paper is to maintain an unbiased point of view.
While I believe being a pseudo-military member to be to my advantage under most contexts in
writing this paper, I also see the possibility of leaning one way over the other in regards to the
new direction I believe this country should take with Nuclear Weapons.