A native of temporarily occupied Crimea, Oleksandra, born the same year as Independent Ukraine, is part of a society that perceives state-building and the preservation of Ukrainian statehood as a personal matter.
Since the victory of the Revolution of Dignity (2013-2014), Oleksandra has worked on projects of public importance, including the creation and development of public broadcasting in Ukraine, and the development and communication of reforms in agro-industry, natural resources, infrastructure, and, since the full-scale invasion, defense.
For the past five years, Oleksandra has worked in the Government, serving as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine from 2022 to 2024. Her portfolio included, among other things, the protection of critical transport infrastructure and the organization of military logistics from abroad.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Oleksandra’s work was critical in organizing the logistics hub in Poland and later in establishing the International Donors Coordination Cell (IDCC) in Stuttgart. Until May 2024, Oleksandra was a key advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov during his tenure as a member of Stavka (the Military Office of the President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Zelensky).
Following her government tenure, she co-founded the independent think tank, We Build Ukraine Foundation (WBUF), alongside several former colleagues. WBUF aims to transform Ukraine’s economy by facilitating reforms and investments in key sectors, primarily Mining, Agriculture, Energy, Construction, and Defense Industries.
Wing Commander Andy Bates joined the Royal Air Force as a Fighter Controller in 1998, qualifying as an Identification Officer in 2001.
After operational, instructor and Training Officer tours within the UK Air Defence system he deployed to the USAF CENTCOM CAOC in the Middle East as the Senior Air Defence Officer, before qualifying as a Surveillance Director and completing another homeland defence tour in 2008. Deploying on two Op HERRICK tours as a Tactical Director and Operations Officer, conducting Airspace Battle Management in Southern Afghanistan he was then seconded to the US Marine Corps Tactical Air Operations Centre for a final deployment to Afghanistan as a Senior Tactical Director.
After an exchange tour with the Royal Navy he was promoted into Artillery Systems within DE&S, before assuming command of 49 (Inkerman) Battery RA, a Royal Artillery sub-unit jointly manned by RA and RAF personnel, in 2015. During this time he over saw the introduction of the Land Environment Air Picture Provision capability into service with 16 Regiment RA. and moved the Battery to its current home at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island.
Moving to the Defence Science & Technology Lab in 2018 he was a Military Advisor in the Space Systems Programme during the period which saw the establishment of UK Space Command and the start of new space procurement activities and operations. With further deployments including the CENTCOM CAOC and as Chief of Staff Op TURUS in West Africa, Bates was then promoted to Wing Commander in 2023 and once again avoids the RAF by returning to Baker Barracks as Deputy Commander 7 Air Defence Group.
Air Commodore Crawford is the Commandant of the Air and Space Warfare Centre. He completed tours on 111(F) and XXV(F) Squadrons, and the Tornado F3 Operational Conversion Unit, before promotion to Squadron Leader, where he was posted to the Tactical Leadership Programme, while completing a Masters at Cambridge University before returning to the F3 as a Flight Commander.
He completed Advanced Command and Staff College and an MA in Defence Studies, prior to posting to a strategy role in the Pentagon. He returned to the UK as OC Ops Wing at RAF Leuchars, before deploying as XO to the Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division, in Baghdad on OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. Crawford was awarded an OBE in 2015.
Within Joint Forces Command, he led the rollout of ‘Warfare in the Information Age’ and then returned to Washington as the interoperability lead for the Multi Domain Command and Control enterprise, before participating in the development of the USAF’s innovation strategy.
Appointed Station Commander, RAF Leeming, he drove multiple transformation programmes including setting up the RAFX Innovation Hub. He was awarded a CBE in 2021 before attending Higher Command and Staff College. He is currently completing a Doctorate in Innovation, Technology and Strategy at Durham University, where he is also a Professor in Practice.
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.
Hember joined the Royal Navy in 1996. Early sea service spanned Offshore Patrol Vessels to Aircraft Carriers, as a Frigate Navigating Officer providing fire support during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and roles as a PWO (Communications and Electronic Warfare). Shore service roles have included Commander Mobile Sea Training to FOST, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, and the Ministry of Defence Crisis team during numerous Middle East crises and the inception of Defence support and response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the UK Maritime Operations Centre, Hember lead the team developing maritime operational plans and overseeing the RN’s operating budget. Operational sea commands have included two River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels in Northern Europe and the South Atlantic, the Type 45 destroyers DARING and DIAMOND, and the Amphibious Flagship ALBION leading the Northern Littoral Response Group on operations in the High North and Baltic. A sailor, Hember is Vice Commodore RNSA and chairs Royal Navy Sailing.
He has been Deputy Director Naval Capability Plans, and UK Representative to the NATO Naval Armaments Group, since 2024.
Sidharth Kaushal's research at RUSI covers the impact of technology on maritime doctrine in the 21st century and the role of sea power in a state's grand strategy.
Sidharth holds a doctorate in International Relations from the London School of Economics, where his research examined the ways in which strategic culture shapes the contours of a nation's grand strategy.
Ran Kochav "RanKo" is an Israel Defense Forces Brigadier General, former Israeli Air & Missile Defense Forces commander and the IDF Spokesperson. General Kochav was a member of the General Staff and directly subordinate to the chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, and his replacement, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
Kochav joined the IDF in 1989 and was a soldier and officer in the Israeli Air Force under Anti-Aircraft Command. During this time he commanded a mobile anti-aircraft battery (MIM-72 Chaparral). He was a deputy commander of the M61 Vulcan and FIM-92 Stinger battalion in the Israel's Northern border "Purple Line" of ceasefire when the IDF stayed in south Lebanon.
In 2003–2005 Kochav was the commander of the 66th battalion ("Ram"), a mobile anti-aircraft battery based on several weapons – Machbet, M61 Vulcan, and FIM-92 Stinger – in the northern border of Israel after the withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanon (2000). Before the 2006 Lebanon war he was the divisional anti-aircraft officer of the 91st division. He went on to be the head of the special forces section in the Air Group of IAF (2005-2006).
In 2006 Kochav was appointed the commander of the Arrow missiles 136th Battalion "Protective Sword", which he also commanded during the 2006 second Lebanon war. Upon his return from studies in the US (2008-2009) he was appointed as the head of TRADOC (Training and Doctrine) section of the anti-aircraft command. He led the operational evolution that brought the Anti-Aircraft Forces ("Nun-Mem") to its current structure as the Air and Missile Defense Command ("Hagna"), as well as the capabilities of Iron Dome batteries and making them operational until the first Iron Dome interceptions. As a commander of IAMD forces he was leading and responsibility protecting Israel from Palestinian rocket attacks on cities of Israel.
General Kochav became the first commander of the 168th air wing ("Defense of The State's Sky") upon the 2011 changes in the air and missile defense forces. Under his command served thousands of fighters and technicians who operated various air defense systems, including the American Patriot and Hawk systems.
From 2013 to 2015 he commanded the School and Academy of Air & Missile Defense, which trains and educates all air defense worriers and trains officers of all ranks. Then he went on to study at the Israeli National Security College. In 2016 he was promoted a Brigadier General and took office as the chief officer of the military police corps of IDF. He remained in this post until 2018, then returned to the Air Force and became the commander of the Israeli Air and Missile Forces, serving until April 2021.
Kochav earned his bachelor's degree in communications and business administration from the College of Management, Tel Aviv. He has two master's degrees: one in strategic studies from the Air University of the US Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama (Maxwell AFB), and another in political science from Haifa University and the Israeli National Security College.
Having joined the German Air Force in 1988, Brigadier General Arnt Kuebart served on several Air Defence Missile Systems in various duties. He commanded at all levels and went on to head the whole of the German Air and Missile Defence as Commander AMD Wing 1. He also served as a Station Commander in the ISAF Campaign.
Brigadier General Kuebart’s staff appointments have covered all aspects of Air and Missile Defence and numerous Military Political assignments on all levels up to and including the Ministry of Defence where he lately led the branch for bilateral relations with states of Europe, America and Oceania in the Directorate for Security and Defence Policy. He also served in NATO providing strategic military-political advice to NATO’s senior Leadership as the MA to the Director General International Military Staff.
Most recently Brigadier General Kuebart headed of the EU group in the German Military Delegation to NATO and EU. He currently serves as Commander Ground-Based Units of the German Air Force.
Brigadier General Kuebart is a graduate of the German and UK Command and Staff College. He is also an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies and has earned an MSc and MA.
Archer Macy is a consultant on national defense and homeland security issues, particularly in the areas of integrated air and missile defense strategy, systems and programs. He participates in related discussions on defense and naval strategies and policies, operational requirements and planning, research and development, and acquisition program management.
His Naval career included duties as a Surface Warfare Officer on multiple ships, including command of a destroyer, and deployments to all the major maritime operational theatres. Ashore he served on the Navy staff, as well as in the program offices for Cruise Missiles, the Aegis Combat System, the Navy Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense Program, and for Integrated Warfare Systems.
Rear Admiral Macy commanded the Naval Surface Warfare Centers (NSWC) and served as the Naval Sea Systems Command deputy commander for warfare systems engineering. Additionally, he was the director for Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technology and Training. His last assignment was on the Joint Staff, where he was the director for air and missile defense requirements and resources.
He is a graduate of the University of Washington (B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics), the Naval Postgraduate School (M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering) and the Naval War College (M.A. (with distinction) in National Security and Strategic Studies).
He is a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses, Arlington, VA.
Bogusz Madej is a policy officer in the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Section of the Defence Investment Division of the NATO International Staff. In that capacity, he is responsible for politico-military aspects of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence, including hypersonic weapons and NATO BMD.
Before joining NATO International Staff, Mr. Madej worked for the Polish Permanent Delegation to NATO, where he was covering: nuclear policy, integrated air and missile defence and CBRN defence. Earlier, he worked in the International Security Department and the Missile Defence Bureau of the Polish Ministry of National Defence, where he was responsible i.a. for the politico-military aspects of NATO BMD and the Polish-US cooperation on Air and Missile Defence, including on the deployment of the US Aegis Ashore and Patriot systems to Poland.
Tom McKane is a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute and a senior member of the European Leadership Network.
Between 2008 and 2014 Tom was, successively, Director General for Strategy and Director General for Security Policy in the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). In 2012 he was briefly the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. He led the MOD’s contribution to the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review and was the Ministry’s principal adviser on all aspects of defence policy, including multilateral and bilateral defence relations.
In a career which included secondments to the Northern Ireland Office, the Cabinet Office’s Overseas and Defence Secretariat (the forerunner to the National Security Staff), where he was the Deputy Head, and the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Tom became an expert on defence policy and planning and developed a particular interest in nuclear deterrence, overseeing the team responsible for the UK Government’s 2006 Nuclear Deterrent White Paper and chairing the MOD’s Defence Nuclear Executive Board from 2011 to 2014. Between 1997 and 1999, Tom was Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
Two years teaching English in Egypt in the 1970s and his time in the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia in the 1980s inspired a keen interest in the Arab world, which he maintains to this day.
Paul O’Neill's research interests cover national security strategy, NATO, and organisational aspects of Defence and security, including organisational design, human resources, professional military education and decision-making. He was the editor of the national security council compendium ‘Securing the State and Its Citizens’ (Bloomsbury, 2022) and co-hosts the RUSI Talking Strategy Podcast series with Professor Beatrice Heuser.
Previously, Paul was a Royal Air Force officer working in strategy and human resources roles across Defence including in the Ministry of Defence Head Office. His career included commanding the Defence School of Personnel Administration, leading the military team working on the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review and latterly as the Head of Defence People Strategy. He has undertaken operational tours in Iraq, Northern Ireland, Oman, Turkey and Afghanistan where he was the Senior Advisor on Strategy and Policy to the Afghan Ministry of Interior.
Paul has a Bachelor’s in Laws, a post-graduate diploma in Personnel Management and Master’s degrees in Laws, Defence Studies and International Relations. He has been a Chief of the Air Staff Fellow at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and is a visiting professor at the University of Winchester. He is a Companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
He was appointed a CBE in the New Year’s Honour List 2021.
Dr Brad Pietras is currently a Senior Commercial Advisor to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), as well as a board advisor to several companies from start-up to the FTSE 100. Prior to joining Rolls Royce, as the Technology Strategy Director and then Director of Business Development for AI and Machine Learning, he spent his twenty-year career at Lockheed Martin, reaching the position of Vice President of Technology. He has personally managed over $100M of R&D programmes, ranging from energy to quantum computing in the US, Europe, and the Middle East.
As a member of the Lockheed Martin Emerging Technology Fund board, he also provided expert advice on investments while serving on several corporate boards in the portfolio. Dr Pietras led the initiative that resulted in the founding of Applied Nanostructured Solutions LLC and the introduction of advanced carbon-based materials in multiple Lockheed Martin products, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Juno spacecraft that successfully entered orbit around Jupiter in July of 2016. He also shares the patent for composites comprising of carbon nanotubes on fibre (US Patent 8,585,934).
In 2019, he received his Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience from the University of Maryland Baltimore. His thesis, entitled ‘Computational Modelling of Behaviour and Neural Mechanisms of Decision-Making Using Reinforcement Learning Theory’, was developed in collaboration with the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit at University College London and explores the mathematical and neural foundations of value in decision-making and reinforcement learning.
Dr Pietras also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master of Science degree in Neuroscience. He was a visiting scientist at the National Institutes of Health in the United States, a visiting researcher at University College London, and is currently a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, and an Honorary Principal Research Fellow at Imperial College London.
Jason Reynolds is vice president, Integrated Air & Missile Defense (IAMD) for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (MFC). He is responsible for program execution and delivery of innovative systems that protect battlefield troops and communities with layered, integrated levels of defense. The IAMD portfolio includes the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptor and other advanced IAMD programs and technologies, delivered to customers across the world.
Previously, Mr. Reynolds was vice president of MFC’s Advanced Programs line of business where he led development of new technologies and future franchise programs spanning
advanced hypersonics, directed energy, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and energy storage solutions.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Reynolds served 25 years of civilian service including roles as the director of the Department of the Navy Special Access Central Office (DONSAPCO) and
director of the Special Programs Division, responsible for the centralized supervision of resources, requirements and policy for all programs requiring enhanced security safeguards. Additional prior duties with the U.S. Navy included leading program integration for the Chief of Naval Operations and design management of aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and surface combatants at the Naval Sea Systems Command.
Matthew Savill is the Director of Military Sciences at RUSI, focussing on developments and trends in modern conflict, and the use of force in the 21st Century.
Before joining RUSI he spent over 20 years as a civil servant working on defence and security, predominantly in the Ministry of Defence. He joined the MOD in 2003, starting his career in Defence Intelligence as an Iraq analyst before moving to intelligence coordination and support to operations, and later roles in private office, approvals and scrutiny of major procurement projects, before a return to analysis and a secondment to the Cabinet Office.
He has also specialised in strategy and policy, with roles in: Defence Strategy and Priorities, working on the Integrated Review; the MOD’s Operations Directorate, where he was responsible for operational policy for the Middle East and overseas counter-terrorism; the Cabinet Office National Security Secretariat, to cover intelligence oversight and then Middle East policy; the MOD team responsible for the deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group in 2021; and operations and crisis team responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His final role in the MOD was responsibility for Special Operations policy, covering oversight of UK Special Forces and intelligence operations.
He attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy Shrivenham in 2010-11, and the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2020, and has a Masters in Defence Studies from King’s College London. He has had articles published in Defence Studies and on The Wavell Room website.
He has deployed on operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and across the Middle East for the military campaign against Daesh.
Matthew was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2008.
Kenneth “Kenn” Todorov is sector vice president and general manager of the Command and Control (C2) & Weapons Integration division for Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems. Todorov leads a business focused on enhancing weapon effectiveness by providing superior weapons C2 and technology-driven weapons systems integration and modernization.
Todorov joined Northrop Grumman in 2016 and has served in executive roles spanning a broad portfolio of programs. He most recently was the sector vice president of Strategic Growth for the Mission Systems sector.
Before joining Northrop Grumman, Todorov concluded a 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a brigadier general. He served as deputy director for the Missile Defense Agency and held senior positions at the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization, U.S. Northern Command, and North American Aerospace Defense Command. He also commanded the Air Force’s 23rd Wing “Flying Tigers,” responsible for 121 combat aircraft and generating air power in multiple theaters.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Siena College and master’s degrees in business administration from National University, national security from the Naval War College and strategic studies from the Air War College. Todorov is a non-resident expert in missile defense projects at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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.
