The UK’s Space Command was formed on 1 April 2021 commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey. At the time the Freeman Air and Space Institute, King’s College London, held an in conversation event online with him and Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth, Director Space (MOD). Since then, Space Command has officially opened its new headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, also the home of Air Command.

We’re delighted that the Air Vice-Marshals have agreed to come back to the Freeman Air and Space Institute to reflect on the first year of Space Command, just two months after the launch of the Defence Space Strategy which took place at the Institute. This event is taking place in partnership with Airbus.

Join us online for the event by registering here. The event will take the form of a ‘fireside chat’ between the Air Vice-Marshals, before they take questions from the audience.

The event will take place on the evening of 30th March from 7.15pm to 8.15pm.

You will receive details of the Zoom link and login via an automated email and reminder emails. Please note this event will be recorded.

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey

Paul Godfrey was announced as the inaugural Commander of UK Space Command in Feb 2021. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1991 and has been a fighter pilot for most of his career, including as a weapons instructor on the Harrier and one of the first operational pilots on the Eurofighter Typhoon. Between 2015 and 2017, Paul was Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland before moving to the Ministry of Defence as head of Carrier Enabled Power Projection. He recently returned from Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, where he was responsible for the planning and employment of coalition air and space power across the Middle East within the USAF Combined Air and Space Operations Centre.

Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth

Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth is UK’s Director Space, leading the Space Directorate in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), responsible for defence space strategy, policy, capability planning and cross-Government & International coherency. Harv joined the RAF in 1991. After qualifying as a fast-jet pilot, he spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor, flying hundreds of operational missions. In 2013 Harv retrained as a Tornado pilot and became the Station Commander of RAF Marham. Promoted to Air Vice-Marshal n 2018, Smyth retrained as a Typhoon pilot and became Air Officer Commanding Number 1 Group.

Freeman Air and Space Institute

The Freeman Air and Space Institute, based in the School of Security Studies, King’s College London, provides independent, original knowledge and understanding of air and space issues.

Airbus

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses.