Profile

I am a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellow examining the Transformation of Transatlantic Counter-Terrorism, 2001-25 in partnership with an international network of experts. The project will develop innovative theoretical approaches to understanding counter-terrorism change over the last 3 decades, combined with a trust and capacity building programme for practitioners. I am also researcher on the GLOBSEC think-tank's high profile Intelligence Reform Initiative.

I gained my ESRC-funded PhD in Security, Conflict and Justice from the University of Exeter in 2016. My thesis examined the recent attempt to transform the British Army Reserve and is currently being re-worked into a book. Elements of the research have already been incorporated into British defence policy. Prior to entering academia, I served in the British Army for five years as an infantry Captain, during which time I deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan. A memoir of my platoon's tour, 'Callsign Hades' was published by Simon and Schuster in 2010 and has been described as 'the first great book of the Afghan War’. After leaving the army I worked as an analyst for NATO and then a private security firm. In total I have 15 years’ experience of working in the security sector as a practitioner, analyst and academic.

I have published in numerous journals on terrorism, counter-terrorism cooperation, counter-terrorism transformation; British Army officer cohesion; the importance of emotions in understanding military cohesion; reserve recruitment and retention; and reserve cohesion; and the intra-party political origins of recent British defence policy. I have appeared in numerous national and international media outlets and appeared on every series of the popular Nazi Megastructures series.

I am happy to supervise students in any of the following areas: counter–terrorism, terrorism, and military sociology (inc. transformation, cohesion and professionalism).

Research interests

• Counter-terrorism (transformations, liaison, trust)
• Terrorism (esp impact of information technology)
• Military sociology
• British Army and Reserve forces