The author, Ambassador (retired) Thomas Graham Jr., is currently Executive Chairman of Lightbridge Corporation, a company which develops new types of nuclear power fuel. He also does extensive part-time teaching at a number of major universities around the country, such as Georgetown University, the University of Washington, Oregon State University and Stanford. He gives lectures and presentations worldwide and appears before Congressional Committees from time to time. Internationally known as one of the leading authorities in the field of international arms control and non-proliferation, he was involved as a senior US diplomat in every major international arms control and non-proliferation negotiation in which the United States took part during the period 1970-1997. In and associated with these negotiations the author had very extensive dealings with Soviet/Russian diplomats, bureaucrats and political figures. In the latter part of his government career he had similar dealings with all of the countries that play a part in Sapphire, as well as many others. He worked closely in these assignments with the full range of the national security establishment of the United States, including State, Defense, White House and Intelligence Community officials. He has published six books on international security including: Disarmament Sketches: Three Decades of Arms Control and International Law, 2002; Spy Satellites and Other Intelligence Technologies that Changed History, 2007; and Unending Crisis, National Security Policy After 9/11, 2012, as well as many articles and op-ed pieces.