Centre for Defence Studies

The Centre for Defence Studies (CDS) is a world-leading centre for defence and security research, thought-leadership, consultancy and executive development. The Director of the Centre, Professor John Gearson, is a professor of National Security Studies at King's College London, and spent several years as the principal defence policy advisor to the Defence Select Committee and as a Parliamentary Clerk to the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee. Before his time at Parliament, he was Director of the MA in Defence Studies at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at the UK Defence Academy.

CDS has three decades of experience in delivering bespoke projects for defence and security clients in the UK and overseas, in both the public and private sectors. In 1990 CDS was established by a grant from the UK Ministry of Defence, and the support of the late Sir Michael Quinlan, its then Permanent-Under Secretary. Now, CDS is now a fully independent research centre at King's College London. In its overlapping areas of activity – research, consultancy and practitioner education – CDS draws on a core academic staff and a deep network of associates and former practitioners, as well as its distinguished cohort of visiting fellows and visiting professors.

There are four objectives at CDS:

Produce interdisciplinary research to advance the fields of defence studies and national security studies;
Host events and initiatives to generate greater public understanding of defence and security issues;
Deliver tailored executive education and development courses to defence and security practitioners from the UK and overseas;
Provide analysis and consultancy services to clients in the defence and security sectors.

CDS currently delivers a variety of bespoke international education and training programmes in: counter-terrorism; intelligence; strategic analysis; foresight; national security studies; and the use of evidence-based analysis in public policy. These include both MA-level accredited programmes running over several months, as well as shorter, more intensive courses for practitioner groups at national level. CDS works closely with clients to identify the most appropriate content and delivery style for each of its programmes.

Members

Philip Berry

Lecturer in War Studies

Gerhard Conrad

Visiting Professor in Intelligence Studies

Joseph Devanny

Lecturer in National Security Studies

John Gearson

Vice Dean - International, Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy , Professor of National Security Studies

Will Jessett

Director, SC Strategy Ltd

Nina Musgrave

Teaching Fellow, & Assistant Director, Centre for Defence Studies

Martin Navias

Senior Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Defence Studies

Malcolm Rifkind

Visiting Professor

John Sawers

Visiting Professor

Valtteri Vuorisalo

Visiting Senior Research Fellow

Tim Willasey-Wilsey

Visiting Professor

Book Launch: The War on Drugs and Anglo-American Relations

Philip Berry is a lecturer in War Studies at the Centre for Defence Studies who is launching his new book, The War on Drugs and Anglo-American Relations: Lessons from Afghanistan, 2001-2011 on Thursday 12th November 2020. Drawn from interviews with policy practitioners on both sides of the Atlantic, the book details the complex counter-narcotics campaign in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011; highlighting key points of cooperation and contention and detailing the contradictory objectives of the overall war effort in Afghanistan.

National Security Studies MA

Our bespoke MA in National Security Studies fosters a unique academic environment which invites policy practitioners, representatives from the private sector and policy-interested postgraduate students to study side by side. Through the blended cohort, practical policy experience and conceptual consideration come together to spark innovative academic approaches to strategy, counter-terrorism and ethics in national security.

The Whole Force by Design: Optimising Defence to Meet Future Challenges

Commissioned by the Serco Institute, The Whole Force by Design: Optimising Defence to Meet Future Challenges, was published by the Centre for Defence Studies (CDS) in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. The report aims to improve the efficiency of the armed forces by examining what progress has been made and what obstacles remain to deliver a fully integrated Whole Force model in the UK.

Other projects

Book Launch: The War on Drugs and Anglo-American Relations

In conversation with former Head of the Armed Forces, General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux

National Security Studies MA

Freeman Air and Space Institute Launch and Rountable

The Whole Force by Design: Optimising Defence to Meet Future Challenges,

Freeman Air & Space Institute Launch and Roundtable - 23 Sept

At the launch, Professor John Gearson, Director of the Institute, introduced its vision and aims, leading to a discussion on the future of UK air and space defence policy, with speakers including politicians, former civil servants and air and space industry professionals.

The Practice of National Security

The distinguished diplomat and Visiting Professor, Lord Peter Ricketts, gave his inaugural lecture discussing the role of the UK's National Security Adviser, a role he first fulfilled. Speakers also included former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Lord Butler, and former Cabinet Office Security and Intelligence Coordinator Professor Sir David Omand.

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Belt & Road event

In his keynote address for the Centre for Defence Studies Professor Andrew Macleod addressed misconceptions about the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, and placed in this broader international context the current debates about Britain’s place in the world after Brexit.

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The General Election and the next Strategic Defence and Security Review

Following the 2019 UK General Election, CDS led a panel discussion exploring the new government's plans for security and defence. Chaired by Dr Joe Devanny, the distinguished panel included Lord Ricketts, Visiting Professor and the first ever UK National Security Adviser, Will Jessett, Visiting Professor and former Director for Strategic Planning at the Ministry of Defence, and Margaret Aldred, former deputy head of the Cabinet Office and Overseas Secretariat of the Iraq Inquiry.

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Contact us

cds@kcl.ac.uk

Tweets by KingsCDS

Centre for Defence Studies

Members

Philip Berry

Gerhard Conrad

Joseph Devanny

John Gearson

Will Jessett

Nina Musgrave

Martin Navias

Malcolm Rifkind

John Sawers

Valtteri Vuorisalo

Tim Willasey-Wilsey