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I explore the future of naval power, technology, and strategy with the perspective of someone who has lived both sides of it.

As a Royal Navy veteran, I served through the Cold War and Falklands era, including combat operations and the reality of bringing the first Type 23 frigate into the fleet — lean-manned, demanding, and a glimpse of the challenges navies still face today. Later, as a Chief Technology Officer in the commercial sector, I led teams through the pressures of scale, resilience, and digital transformation.

Today I continue this work as an independent defence researcher, a member of RUSI, and through my Future Navy project, where I explore how emerging technologies, new doctrines, and lessons from history will shape the fleet of tomorrow.

That blend of operational service, technical leadership, and active research shapes how I write here: cutting through hype, grounding ideas in reality, and asking what navies must get right to succeed in the decades ahead.

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