Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr. is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lightbridge Corporation, a company which develops new types of nuclear power fuel based on high power density metallic technology. These fuels are designed to improve the economics of existing and new nuclear power plants while enhancing safety characteristics and proliferation resistance and reducing waste. Lightbridge is a U.S. company located in McLean, Virginia, listed on the NASDAQ, which has conducted its primary research and development work in the United States, Russia, and Canada.

In December of 2009, Ambassador Graham was appointed to the United Arab Emirates’ International Advisory Board, helping to guide that country’s nuclear energy program and hold it to the highest standards of safety, security, nonproliferation, transparency and sustainability. Ambassador Graham is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. of Vancouver, Canada a uranium exploration company. From July, 1997 to November, 2012 Ambassador Graham chaired the Board of Directors of Mexco Energy Corporation of Midland, Texas, an oil and gas exploration company listed on AMEX. Internationally known as one of the leading authorities in the field of international arms control and non-proliferation. Ambassador Graham served as a senior U.S. diplomat involved in every major international arms control and non-proliferation negotiation in which the United States took part during the period 1970-1997. This includes The Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (the Interim Agreement on Strategic Offensive Arms, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the SALT II Treaty), The Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (the START I Treaty and the START II Treaty), the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty extension, the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

“I have a long association with the Festival having spoken there as well as at related events in Louisville on multiple occasions. I was born and raised in Louisville, attending Male High School before going East to college and law school. My father was on the Churchill Downs Board for 30 years and his cousin, J Graham Brown, was chairman for 30 years. I have attended myself 58 Derbys and a number of Festivals. Christy and I have been good friends for many years, more than 50.

For many years I have been a follower of Thomas Merton, an American saint, recognized by the Pope when he was here. I have read 10 of his books, I was President of the Merton Society in Louisville for three years and when it was decided to close it down I negotiated all of its important non substantive assets to CIR, media contacts, specific media presentation opportunities, contact list, even the poetry contest. So it was natural that I wanted to follow my Merton interest on to the CIR Board.

I am a Louisville person, the CIR is one of Louisville’s great assets, truly unique in many ways. It is a great personal honor and privilege to serve on the CIR Board.”