The National and Economic Security Implications of Fusion Energy

February 2026

Past Event

The National and Economic Security Implications of Fusion Energy

Past Event

Hudson Institute

February 11, 2026

A US nuclear fusion engineer inspects a target chamber at the National Ignition Facility in California, a future test site for light-induced nuclear fusion. (Getty images)

February 2026

Past Event

Speakers:

Jimmy Goodrich

Senior Fellow, University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)

Keith LeChien

Founder and CTO, Pacific Fusion

Jackie Siebens

Vice President of Public Affairs, Helion Energy

Caleb Barnes

Associate Director for Fusion, Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)

Trent Bauserman

Head of Federal Affairs, Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Daniel B. Sinars

Center Director and Deputy Chief Research Officer, Sandia National Laboratories

Shaun Walsh

Chief Marketing Officer, Peak Nano

Moderators:

Rebeccah L. Heinrichs

Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative

Nuclear fusion has held the secret to nearly limitless clean energy since its discovery almost a century ago. Yet scientists around the world, particularly in the United States and China, are only now getting close to making this method of energy generation a reality. Rising US-China competition has further accelerated research and development in this now-critical economic and security technology.

To examine the future of fusion and its geopolitical implications, Hudson will host a two-part event. The first expert panel will focus on fusion and its relationship to the US nuclear deterrent. The second panel will examine how supply chains and the US industrial base can best facilitate fusion deployment.

Agenda

Agenda

11:00 a.m. | Panel I: Fusion and the US Nuclear Deterrent

Jimmy Goodrich, Senior Fellow, University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
Keith LeChien, Founder and CTO, Pacific Fusion
Daniel B. Sinars, Center Director and Deputy Chief Research Officer, Sandia National Laboratories

Moderator

Rebeccah Heinrichs, Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative, Hudson Institute

12:15 p.m. | Panel II: Securing the Fusion Supply Chain

Jackie Siebens, Vice President of Public Affairs, Helion Energy
Caleb Barnes, Associate Director for Fusion, Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)
Trent Bauserman, Head of Federal Affairs, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Shaun Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer, Peak Nano

Moderator

Nadia Schadlow, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Event Audio

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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