David Wurmser served as a Project Officer at the United States Institute of Peace from 1988 to 1994, his first major position after completing his doctoral studies. During this period, he co-edited two volumes with Kenneth M. Jensen: 'Is It Feasible to Negotiate Chemical and Biological Weapon Control?' (1990) and 'The Meaning of Munich Fifty Years Later' (1990). This role gave him early exposure to arms control and nonproliferation issues that would later inform his work under John Bolton at the State Department.