Director, National Security Issues Branch
Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College
Kent Hughes Butts is Professor of Political Military Strategy and the Director of the National Security Issues Group at the Center for Strategic Leadership, U.S. Army War College. His research focuses on the role of natural resources on national security and his doctoral work was on strategic minerals and South Africa’s mineral industry.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Boston University, an M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Washington, and was a John M. Olin Post-Doctoral Fellow in National Security at the Center for International Affairs, Harvard University. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and the U.S. Army War College, and formerly held the Army War College George C. Marshall Chair of Military Studies.
Dr. Butts has travelled widely in Southern Africa conducting research on strategic minerals and has organized and conducted international conferences, workshops or games on natural resources and security in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America. He headed the U.S. delegation and co-chaired the NATO Environmental Security Pilot Study Meetings in Warsaw and Prague, and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the OSCE Economic Forum (Prague). He has been interviewed by the BBC, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and other media and twice testified before Congress on the topic of Climate Change and Security. Dr Butts also participated in the 2011 Defense Science Board Climate Change and Security Study.
He is the author or editor of numerous national security publications, co-author of the book, "Geopolitics of Southern Africa: South Africa as Regional Superpower," and co-editor of the book "Economics and National Security: the Case of China."
Major Uses: domestic consumption, transportation, building, electrical
Import Dependency for U.S.: 38%
Major Importers: Canada, Russia, China, Mexico
Major Uses: construction, transportation (predominantly automotive), cans and containers
Import Dependency for U.S.: 7%
Major Importers: Canada, European Union, China, Mexico
Major Uses: aircraft gas turbine engines, cemented carbides for cutting, wear-resistant applications
Import Dependency for U.S.: 81%
Major Importers: Norway, Russia, China, Canada
Major Uses: building construction, electric and electronic products, and transportation equipment
Import Dependency for U.S.: 30%
Major Importers: Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico
Major Uses: catalysts to decrease harmful emissions in light- and heavy-duty vehicles, also used in chemical and petroleum refining sector, and fabrication of laboratory equipment
Import Dependency for U.S.: 94%
Major Importers: South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada
Major Uses: coins and medals, industrial applications, jewelry and silverware, and photography
Import Dependency for U.S.: 65%
Major Importers: Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile
Major Uses: automotive electronics, pagers, personal computers, and portable telephones
Import Dependency for U.S.: 100%
Major Importers: Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Germany
Major Uses: petroleum-reforming catalysts, superalloys used in turbine engine components
Import Dependency for U.S.: 86%
Major Importers: Chile, Netherlands
Major Uses: catalysts to decrease harmful emissions in light- and heavy-duty vehicles, also used in chemical and petroleum refining sector, and fabrication of laboratory equipment
Import Dependency for U.S.: 94%
Major Importers: South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada
Major Uses: Jewelry and arts, electrical and electronics, dental and other
Import Dependency for U.S.: 33%
Major Importers: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile
