Panel: Nuclear Silos (Decommissioned) - and the current nuclear environment
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 2pm
Dr. Adrian Lewis, University of Kansas
Charles Sexton, Kansas State University
Nate Hofer
Sunday, November 2 | 2pm
Free Admission | RSVP here
On August 6th, 1945 President Harry S. Truman shared with the world the use of a new, powerful weapon, stating: "The fact that we can release atomic energy ushers in a new era in man's understanding of nature's forces."
Eighty years on we continue to wrestle with the implications of nuclear weapons. In 2025, there are nine nuclear countries but new additions are coming.
On November 2nd, Volland will host a panel discussion that outlines the development of nuclear weapons, their migration into popular culture and the current state of nuclear proliferation as part of programming around Nate Hofer's exhibition Heartland Silos (Decommissioned).
Dr. Adrian Lewis
David B. Pittaway Professor of Military History at the University of Kansas
Dr. Adrian Lewis is a retired soldier; he served with the 2-1 Infantry and 2-23 Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, and the 2-75 Infantry (Ranger), in Korea, Alaska, Panama, and Germany. He teaches courses on World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and more recent military operations including the Global War on Terrorism and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Prof. Lewis earned his B.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley; M.A. in History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (under Prof. John Shy); MBA from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; and Ph.D. in History from the University of Chicago (under Prof. Michael Geyer).
Prof. Lewis' publications include The American Culture of War: The History of U.S. Military Force from World War II to Operation Enduring Freedom, now in its third edition, published in 2018, and Omaha Beach: A Flawed Victory, published in 2001 and still considered the best analysis of Allied amphibious warfare doctrine in the European Theater of Operations. Prof. Lewis recently published an article in RINSA FORUM, the Korean National Defense University Journal, titled: "Sovreignty and National Security" (May 2021).
At Volland Dr. Lewis will share information about the Manhattan Project, nuclear triads, and thermo-nuclear weapons development, focusing on the 1945 - 1960 timeframe, as well as the current nuclear environment.
Charles Sexton
Kansas State University, PhD student
Charles "Chuck" Sexton is a business owner, and retired U.S. Army Colonel with over thirty years of military service.
He led and commanded soldiers and other members of the joint force at every level from the squad to the brigade. His combat and operational postings include: Central America, Operation Desert Shield and Storm/ Iraq, Operation Restore Hope/ Somalia, Stabilization Force (SFOR)/Bosnia, Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Iraq, Operation New Dawn/ Iraq, and Operation Enduring Freedom/ Afghanistan.
During his time as a Regular Army Infantry non-commissioned officer and officer he served in numerous command and staff positions including assignments in the Pentagon as a member of the personal staff for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the Chief of Staff of the Army working on the development of the National Defense Strategy. While stationed in Germany he served on the personal staff of the Commander of the United States Army in Europe. As a staff officer he conducted research, analysis, and provided feedback to military and political senior leaders on various matters including nuclear arms treaty verification and nuclear weapons capabilities and deployment.
He has earned multiple degrees, including a B.A. in History, and an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College/National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He has completed all course work for a Ph.D. in Military History from Kansas State University and is in the process of completing his dissertation.
For the panel, Chuck will delve into naming conventions and etymology around ICBMs and their sites, and outline the various ways nuclear weapons found their way into popular culture. Chuck will look at films like The Bamboo Saucer and The Day After, and advertisement campaigns and illuminate how popular culture shaped public opinion and policy around nuclear weapons.
Nate Hofer
Heartland Silos (Decommissioned)
Nate Hofer (he/him) is an artist blending music and photography. Nate was born in Nigeria to Mennonite conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War, and his art reflects a deep commitment to peace. Inspired by his Cold War upbringing in the Midwest, Nate explores issues of arms control and disarmament through aerial photography of decommissioned missile silos and solo ambient performances on the pedal steel guitar. His work has been recognized with awards such as the 2021 Global Peace Photo Award and membership to the Atomic Photographer’s Guild. Nate’s 2024 debut album EP, “Decommissioned,” recorded in a former Kansas missile silo, has garnered recent national attention on NPR and has made him a TEDxKC speaker/performer.
Nate will touch on his work shown in the gallery then open up the conversation with Dr. Lewis and Mr. Sexton about a topic that is as relevant today as it was in the 1950s.
