Major Shawn Caporale is a member of the inaugural cohort of the Andrew Carnegie AI-Nuclear Policy Accelerator. 

Shawn Caporale is a Major in the U.S. Air Force, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and a Master of Science in Operational and Military Leadership. A graduate of the prestigious United States Air Force Weapons School, he currently serves on the Joint Staff, J8, at the Pentagon where he represents the J8 on all nuclear requirements, overseeing critical programs such as the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N), Theater Nuclear Forces, and the modernization of the entire nuclear triad.

A proven leader in strategic acceleration, Major Caporale recently spearheaded the Department of War’s first-ever combatant command derived requirement through the accelerated Joint Force Requirements Process. He successfully guided the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, and Services to integrate conventional and nuclear long-range fires in response to dynamic national security threats. Additionally, he served as the military lead for the acceleration of the modernized Sentinel ICBM. In this role, he directed a 25-person team over a 60-day period, resulting in the projected delivery of the capability 5 to 7 years sooner than originally planned.

In his time as the Assistant Director of Operations at the 315th Weapons Squadron, Major Caporale’s leadership was instrumental. There, he led a team of 10 personnel to execute the Air Force’s only nuclear-focused Weapons School curriculum, creating the Air Force’s future nuclear experts, tactical leaders, and masterclass instructors. His career is marked by a deep expertise in joint warfighting requirements and a demonstrated ability to lead and innovate on the nation’s most critical defense programs.