Christopher John Bright is an independent scholar of twentieth century American diplomatic and political history.

In January 2006, Mr. Bright completed a Ph.D. dissertation entitled “’A Portent of Flaming Doom;’ Nuclear Antiaircraft Arms, Continental Defense, and the Eisenhower Era,” about the political, strategic, cultural, and practical aspects of American weapons intended to counter a surprise Soviet bomber attack during the Cold War. He received grants for this work from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, the Department of the Army’s Center for Military History, and others.

Mr. Bright has also researched, written on, and spoken about the history of Fairfax County, Virginia, focusing on the period between the eve of the Civil War to the time of economic and population growth which was sparked by the New Deal and continues today. In addition, he has served as an aide to a prominent local official, and two Virginia governors. As the Commonwealth’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade, he worked for four years to recruit international and domestic business to Fairfax County and elsewhere in Virginia.

Christopher Bright holds an M.Phil. (American History) from George Washington (2003), an M.A. (Foreign Affairs) from the University of Virginia (1991), and an A.B. (Government) from the College of William and Mary (1987). He is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County, Virginia and a graduate of West Springfield High School.

Mr. Bright is a member of the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations and the Society of Historians of American Communism. He has been involved professionally and avocationally in a variety of civic and political endeavors in Virginia.

George Washington University Department of History
George Washington Cold War Group
Webpage: Images By Amir

Contact:
CBright10@aol.com