Dr. Durakovic became recognized as an international expert on the consequences of nuclear war due to his research and publications on the medical and biological effects of nuclear radiation. During the 1980’s, he served as an advisor to the Reagan administration on the global risks and effects of nuclear war and nuclear winter. He led the United States Army medical team studying Russia’s thermonuclear weapons tests in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan (Nuclear Treaty Joint Verification Experiment). Dr. Durakovic's research into the effects of nuclear weapons in combination with his treaty verification activities directly contributed to the decision by the United States to avoid nuclear escalation with Russia and instead adopt the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)

In 1991, Dr. Durakovic graduated from the Military Medical Academy in Fort Leavenworth, Missouri, at which time he was commissioned to the rank of Colonel of the Medical Corps, Department of Defense, USA.