Sam Cranny-Evans
Dr Uzi Rubin
Dr Thomas Withington
Thomas Bajorek
Radoslava Stefanova
Air Cdre Andrew Martin
Alessandro Marrone
Lord Toby Harris
Brigadier General Glauco Mora
Lt Col Stuart Hay
Dr Anthony Wraight
Professor Justin Bronk
Sam Cranny-Evans was a Research Analyst at RUSI in C4ISR between October 2021 and December 2022. During his time at RUSI he focused on multi-domain integration, electronic warfare, and the war in Ukraine. He co-led the establishment of the Red Team project, which provides analysis of the Russian and Chinese militaries. He has also spent time researching lethal autonomous weapons and their proliferation risk. He now works at Helsing, a defence AI company providing thought leadership and in government affairs.
Previously, he worked for five years at the Janes Information Group where he finished as a lead analyst in land warfare platforms. His primary role was the creation and maintenance of the Janes Armoured Fighting Vehicles yearbooks and online content set. His research in this area encompassed a range of topics from armoured vehicle design to their interaction with UAVs.
Alongside this he contributed to the Janes news and analysis publications, and assisted with or wrote more than 500 news articles during his time with the company. His research has included the development and modernisation of China’s People’s Liberation Army, artillery tactics in Ukraine and Russia’s concepts of escalation management.
Sam has a degree in War Studies from the University of Kent, where he graduated with first class honours in 2012 having written a dissertation on the morale of the Russian population during the Second World War. His studies included conflicts throughout history from the Punic Wars to the Falklands.
Uzi Rubin was the founder and first Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD), in which capacity he initiated and managed the Israel’s nation-wide effort to develop, produce and deploy its first national missile defense shield, the Arrow missile defense system. He led the Arrow program from its inception in 1991 to the first delivery of operational missiles in 1999.
He received his ME in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1969 and subsequently directed major programs in Israel Aerospace Industries and the Israel MoD. In 1990 as a visiting scholar in the Stanford Center for International Security and Arms Control he directed a major study on missile proliferation. He served between 1999 and 2001 in the Israel National Security Council, where he was senior director for proliferation and technology. He was twice awarded the Israel Defense Prize in 1996 and in 2003, and the MDA David Israel Prize for achievements in missile defense in 2000. He retired from Israel Government service in late 2002.
In 2019 he received his PhD in political science from the Bar Ilan University. He is currently a Senior Researcher in the Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies as well as in the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies where he publishes frequently on national security issues.
Radoslava Stefanova is the Head of the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Section in NATO’s Defence Investment Division. Until September 2020, Radoslava was Head of the Russia and Ukraine Relations Section at NATO’s Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, where she worked for 16 years.
Her earlier professional experience was teaching international and Trans-Atlantic relations at the American University of Rome. Prior to that, she did field work in Kosovo with the International Crisis Group. In the preceding years, she was a research fellow at a Rome-based think tank, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), where she worked on Trans-Atlantic relations, the Balkans, Russia, deterrence and defence, nuclear non-proliferation and conflict management. Radoslava has published a number of articles and book chapters on these topics, and co-edited two books, The New Transatlantic Agenda: Facing the Challenges of Global Governance (Ashgate, 2001, republished by Routledge, 2017) and Promoting Conflict Prevention and Human Security: G8, UN, and Global Governance (Ashgate, 2003).
Radoslava holds graduate degrees in international affairs/strategic studies from the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), US and in conflict analysis from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) of Carleton University, Canada. She is currently in the process of finalising her Ph.D. thesis on conflict prevention at the European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy. Her undergraduate degree in international affairs was granted by the American University of Paris, France summa cum laude.
Radoslava is a dual Bulgarian and Italian national. In December 2007 she was granted the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Solidarietà Italiana by the President of Italy.
Air Cdre Andy Martin is currently the RAF’s Deputy Director for Air Capability and Programmes, and the Air Capability lead for Integrated Air and Missile Defence. He is a Qualified Air Defence Weapons and Tactics Instructor, with operational tours as both an Air Defence pilot and E-3D Squadron Commander. His broader experience includes roles as an Operational Test pilot, Chief of Combat Operations in a Combined Air Operations Centre, Deputy Commander of the UK ISTAR Force, and Deputy Commander of the NATO AEW & Control Force.
Air Cdre Martin is a Physics graduate with a Masters’ Degrees in Defence Studies from the Royal Canadian Military College, and in National Security Strategy from the US National War College in Washington DC.
Alessandro Marrone is Head of IAI Defence Programme. He has been working at IAI since 2007, and currently manages research projects and publications related to European and transatlantic security as well as to Italy’s defence policy. Since 2018 he is also Professor at the Istituto Superiore di Stato Maggiore Interforze of the Italian Ministry of Defence, after four years of teaching at the University of Perugia. He is mentor at the NATO Defence College, and since 2016 is member of the Scientific Board of the Armament Industry European Research Group (ARES Group).
He holds a PhD in History of Europe from the La Sapienza University of Rome and a Master of Science (MSc) in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is interested in armed conflicts, European defence, NATO, Italian defence and foreign policy, defence industry and market, space, security in the Mediterranean region.
Lord Toby Harris is chair of the National Preparedness Commission. Since it was established in 2020, the Commission has been influential in the development of the UK Government Resilience Framework and has established a reputation as the leading body promoting better preparedness for a major crisis or incident.
He is also Visiting Professor of Resilience at Cranfield University and is President of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management. In addition, he chairs two regulatory bodies (the General Dental Council, which regulates dental professionals; and the Fundraising Regulator, which oversees charitable fundraising).
Lord Toby Harris was made a Life Peer in June 1998 and has been Chair of the Labour Peers since 2012. He stood down from Parliament’s Joint Committee on National Security at the beginning of 2021, having been a member for most of the previous decade. He has also been at various times a member of the House of Lords’ Select Committees on Life Beyond COVID, on Democracy and Digital Technologies, on Personal Internet Security, and on the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy (which he chaired).
In 2016 and in 2021, he conducted Independent Reviews for the Mayor of London on London’s Preparedness to Respond to a Terrorist Attack. His Independent Review on the Deaths of Young People in Prison Custody (“The Harris Review: Changing Prisons, Saving Lives”) was published by the Ministry of Justice in July 2015.
He is a former Council Leader (1987-1999), led the Labour Group on the London Assembly for four years (2000-2004), and was the founding Chair of the Association of London Government (now London Councils)(1995-2000). He was the first Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (2000-2004) and then on behalf of successive Home Secretaries oversaw police work on counterterrorism and security (2004-2012).
In addition, he was the Chair of National Trading Standards (responsible for delivering national and cross-boundary consumer protection enforcement activity) from 2013 to 2021. He also chaired the Independent Advisory Group on Ethics for the National Crime Agency (2017-2024) and the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (2009-2015). He was a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union (1994-2002).
Professionally, he was Director of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales (then the statutory body representing the interests of patients in the NHS) (1987-1998); and Deputy Director of the Electricity Consumers’ Council (1979-1986). Previously, he was in the Economics Division of the Bank of England (1975-1979).
He was born in 1953 and graduated from Cambridge University in 1975, having studied Natural Sciences and Economics and where he was President of the Cambridge Union.
B.G. Glauco Luigi Mora enlisted in 1986 and attended the Italian Air Force Academy until 1989 with the Course “Falco 4th. As Second Lieutenant, he was assigned to the 12th radar group of Mortara (PV), where he served as Intercept Controller and Air Surveillance Officer. During the same period, he commanded the local security company and the base logistic service. In 1996 he was assigned at the NATO E-3A Component in Geilenkirchen (Germany).
From 1996 to 1999 he served on board the E-3A AWACS aircraft as an airborne weapons Controller (W.C.) and he became instructor of the same specialtiy and later chief of the W.C. Section of training Wing. He participated in all the operations that took place between 1996-1999. He has logged more than 1500 flight hours, many of which flown for operations over the Balkans, including the air campaign in Kosovo. In 1999 he was assigned to the Operational Command of the Italian Air Force (COFA), in Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), as Head of the Tactical Control Section.
From September 2003 to February 2004 he held the position of Chief of the Air Operations Section for “Enduring Freedom" Operation, in the Italian Joint Force Cell located at US CENTCOM in Tampa, Florida.
In 2004 he attended the 7th Joint Services Staff College (ISSMI). In the same period he gained the Master Degree in international strategic-military studies issued by the Center for Advanced Studies for Defense jointly with the University of Milan and the Luiss "Guido Carli" of Rome. The following years he was assigned as a tutor at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies - Higher Institute of Joint Staff.
From August 2007 to August 2010 he served in the Italian Military Representative to the EU Military Committee, in Brussels, within the Capability Planning Section. He participated, as national delegate, in the activities of the EU Military Committee Working Group - Headline Goal Task Force (EU Military Committee Working Group - Headline Goal Task Force) within the Council of the EU.
In August 2010 he was assigned to the 3rd Department of the Italian Air Force General Staff, and on the following November appointed Head of the EU Operational Plans / Coalitions section at the J5 Plans Division of the Italian Joint Operations Headquarters. From November 2013 to October 2015 he commanded the 17th Wing Special Forces of the Italian Air Force. From 2015 to 2018 he held the position of Head of the 2nd Office "Policy for the generation and use of aerospace forces" of the 3rd Department of the Italian Air Force General Staff and attended, at the same time, the 68th and 69th IASD session at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (CASD). From October 1st 2018 to December 21st 2020 he was the Deputy Commander of the Italian Air Operations Centre by the Italian Airspace Operational Command in Poggio Renatico. From January 2021 to september 2023 he was Commandant of Joint Air Operations School in Guidonia (ROME). Since September 27th 2023, Brigadier General Mora is the Airspace Control Brigade Commander, at the Airspace Operational Command in Poggio Renatico, Ferrara.
B.G. Mora has a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from the Federico II University of Naples and a master's degree in International Relations from the Niccolò Cusano University of Rome and a 2nd level Master in Global Strategy and Security, released by 'University of Turin. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on July 2020.
Since commissioning in 2003, Col Stuart Hay’s service has centred around both planning and executing the integration of the Air and Land Components, at brigade and divisional levels.
Operationally, he has deployed to Iraq twice; as a Multiple Commander on OP TELIC, conducting Security Sector Reform in Basra in 2005 and as ADC to the 3* DCG Multi-National Force-Iraq in Baghdad in 2009. He deployed as a Fire Support Team Commander in Afghanistan in 2007, on Op HERRICK 6, supporting both the Grenadier Guards and Royal Anglian Regiment Battle Groups. In 2022, he was Director Plans for the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant on Op SHADER.
His service on the Staff has included delivering joint operational medical capability for the Surgeon General, largely to Afghanistan at the height of the conflict. He was also SO2 J5 in the 1st Artillery Brigade, and a Chief of the Joint Air Ground Integration Cell (JAGIC), with HQ 3rd (UK) Division.
At Sub-Unit he commanded both a Close Support Tac Gp Bty (137 (Java) Battery) and an MLRS Bty (132 Battery (The Bengal Rocket Troop)). As Second-in-Command of 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, he controlled both the rebasing of the last British Army Close Support artillery regiment from Germany, and the reformation of the divisional deep fires regiment in Larkhill.
In 2022, he took command of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery (The London Invicta Gunners). Over the next two years the regiment conducted the first operational deployments of the UK’s first beyond-visual-range GBAD system for 50 years (Sky Sabre), to both the Falkland Islands and eastern Europe and the Land Environment Air Picture Provision capability returned to readiness supporting 3(UK)XX, the LABCT and the ABCT.
In Feb 24 he was selected for promotion to Colonel and Command of 7th Air Defence Group, the British Army’s Ground Based Air Defence Formation, from May 24.
His advanced staff training was as a member of the Army Advanced Development Programme. He has a BSC (Hons) in Business and an MBA, with a research focus on developing the operational mindset of service personnel by optimising ‘in-camp’ organisational culture and processes.
Anthony joined the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) as a Research Scientist after graduating from university with an honours degree in Physics with Management. His early career related to the protection of military systems against nuclear weapon effects and high-power electromagnetic environments. After completing his MSc, he studied for a PhD in applied electromagnetics through the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, a Chartered Engineer, and a Chartered Physicist.
Anthony was appointed Director of the UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) in August 2016 and is responsible for the provision of technical advice and guidance on all aspects of defence against ballistic and advanced missile threats to front line commands, policy makers, and senior officials across the UK government. He is also responsible for the MDC’s partnership with industry, its Science and Technology (S&T) activities, and various international relationships with allies and partners across the globe. Anthony is also the Commissioner for the Missile Defence S&T Programme, which is part of the UK MOD’s S&T portfolio.
Professor Justin Bronk is the Senior Research Fellow for Airpower and Technology in the Military Sciences team at RUSI, and the Editor of the RUSI Defence Systems online journal.
His particular areas of expertise include the modern combat air environment, Russian and Chinese ground-based air defences and fast jet capabilities, the air war during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, unmanned combat aerial vehicles and novel weapons technology. He has written extensively for RUSI and a variety of external publications, as well as appearing regularly in the international media.
Justin also holds a Professor II position at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the Scientific and Technical Journal "Weapons and Equipment" at the Central Scientific Research Institute of Arms and Military Equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
His PhD examined Balancing Imagination and Design in British Combat Aircraft Development at the Defence Studies Department of Kings College London.
Justin is also a private light aircraft and glider pilot.