March 8, 2016 | Press Release

Olli Heinonen, former IAEA head of Safeguards, Joins FDD as Advisor on Science and Nonproliferation

Olli Heinonen, former head of Safeguards and Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has joined the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as Advisor on Science and Nonproliferation. FDD is a non-partisan think tank focused on national security issues. A 27-year veteran of the IAEA, Heinonen will contribute to FDD’s research on Iran as well as other timely issues.

Mr. Heinonen is regularly called on to provide analysis of the most important global nonproliferation challenges. During the discussion leading up to the nuclear deal with Iran, Mr. Heinonen was consulted by Congress, the administration, the media and the wider policy community to assess the strengths and weakness of the JCPOA.

Mr. Heinonen’s most recent research for FDD was issued on Friday entitled, The IAEA's Latest Report Falls Short, which noted that the “most recent report on Iran’s nuclear activities provides insufficient details on important verification and monitoring issues.”

“Mr. Heinonen is a national treasure who has dedicated decades of service to the cause of keeping the world's worst weapons out of the hands of the world's worst people,” said Mark Dubowitz, executive director of FDD and head of its Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance.  “Few have as deep and as comprehensive an understanding of all aspects of Iran's nuclear program as Olli. At a time when monitoring, inspecting, and verifying Iran's nuclear activities could not be more important, we are thrilled to have one of the world's leading experts on the subject join our team.”

“I am pleased to join an organization with its recognized depth of expertise and commitment to sound policymaking,” said Mr. Heinonen. “I have seen FDD’s work up close and it’s an honor to be part of this impressive team that is well-regarded team across the political aisle.”

Mr. Heinonen is also a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. His research and teachings include: nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, verification of treaty compliance, enhancement of the verification work of international organizations, and transfer and control of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
At the IAEA, in addition to serving as head of safeguards department and as Deputy Director General, he was Director at the Agency’s various Operational Divisions, and as inspector including at the IAEA’s overseas office in Tokyo, Japan.
Prior to joining IAEA, he was a Senior Research Officer at the Technical Research Centre of Finland Reactor Laboratory in charge of research and development related to nuclear waste solidification and disposal. He is co-author of several patents on radioactive waste solidification.

His writings and interviews have be published in various newspapers and magazines including: Foreign Policy, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Arms Control Today, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, Helsingin Sanomat, The New York Times, Mehr News Agency, Stern, Haaretz, New Statesman, The Washington Post, The Washington Examiner, BBC, and Time. His policy briefings have been published by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Belfer Center, Atlantic Council, Nautilus Institute, Institute for Science and International Security, Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Carnegie Endowment.

Mr. Heinonen is a member of the non-partisan Iran Task Force where he has written on the military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program, the parameters of an acceptable Iran nuclear program, and key limitations on Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

About the Foundation for Defense of Democracies:

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)3 policy institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. Founded in 2001, FDD combines policy research, democracy and counterterrorism education, strategic communications and investigative journalism in support of its mission to promote pluralism, defend democratic values and fight the ideologies that drive terrorism. Visit our website at www.defenddemocracy.org and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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