This dissertation touches on a series of events leading to an aspect of United States public policy dealing with weapons of mass destruction (WMD). After exploring the literature that describes the understanding of public policy, this paper uses the case study method to understand why and how a single research center and a particular set of circumstances and events led to the development of United States WMD elimination policy. The study is guided by two framing questions and three supporting questions. The framing questions are: 1. How did the National Defense University's Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD Center) influence U.S. policy? 2. How did the WMD Center's research influence the new policy and mission area for the Department of Defense's WMD elimination mission? The three supporting questions are: 3. Why is a U.S. policy on elimination of WMD necessary? 4. How did research inform policy on elimination of WMD? 5. Why did policy-changing research occur at the NDU Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction rather than at a similar institution of higher education? The dissertation posits that the WMD Center significantly influenced U.S. policy in ways accommodated by a collegial and collaborative culture of non-attribution and expertise providing a non-partisan environment committed to a practical outcome. Methodologically, the dissertation explores the nature of public policy development and research perspectives of policy analysis in theory and then takes a case study approach to coherently and logically understand the affects and effects of research influence on public policy in a specific place, time, and context. Specifically, this study then applies the case study approach to considering the environment, forces, and causes that contributed to the WMD Center's leadership role in creating the WMD elimination mission [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]