Conflict continues in Ukraine and in the Middle East, and there are new threats and risks of escalation around the world. Emerging technology is being pioneered on the battlefield in real-time. The UK needs sophisticated Defence thinking to ensure it can be a global force and protect British interests around the world by air, land and sea.

As the UK’s new government conducts its first Strategic Defence Review, each of our Armed Services has a bespoke set of needs after an era of downsizing and effective cuts to front-line capabilities. In this first in a series of talks by former senior officers, Air Vice Marshal (retd) Greg Bagwell will discuss the Royal Air Force’s requirements. He will discuss the expensive problem of procurement and the need for UK Defence to provide deterrence and coercion as well as fighting wars.

The Henry Jackson Society is pleased to invite you to the first of these fascinating, important and timely conversations.

Air Marshal Greg Bagwell CB, CBE is a retired senior RAF commander. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff, Crisis & Deliberate Planning at PJHQ, Air Officer Commanding No.1 Group, and deployed as the UK’s Joint Air Component Commander for Operation Ellamy over Libya. He subsequently served as Chief of Staff Joint Warfare at Joint Forces Command before assuming the role of Deputy Commander Operations at RAF Air Command. He retired from the RAF in 2016.

Andrew Fox served in the British Army from 2005 to 2021, completing three tours in Afghanistan, including one attached to the US Army Special Forces. He served in the Parachute Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group, with additional tours in Bosnia, the Middle East, and Northern Ireland.

After his active service, he spent three years as a senior lecturer in the War Studies and Behavioural Science departments at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Andrew specialises in Defence, the Middle East, and disinformation. He holds degrees in Law & Politics, Modern War Studies, and Psychology.

His extensive experience has established him as a recognised authority in his field and he provides regular commentary on defence and foreign policy across the media including articles in the New York Post, the Telegraph and Spiked. He has amassed a large following across his digital platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Substack, where he writes on disinformation, defence and security as stories develop.

This photo is a property of https://members.parliament.uk/member/4942/portrait

Richard Foord lives in Uffculme with his family. He grew up in the West Country before going on to serve in the Army for more than a decade, reaching the rank of Major. He completed tours in Iraq and the Balkans, serving as a UN peacekeeper in Kosovo.

Before being elected as an MP in 2022, Richard worked for the University of Exeter and the University of Oxford. He is a passionate local activist, and has raised thousands of pounds for charities – including running the London Marathon for the Royal British Legion.

He represented the people of Tiverton & Honiton as their Member of Parliament from June 2022, when he overturned a staggering Conservative majority of over 24,000 in a crucial by-election that sent shockwaves through Westminster, and is now representing the new Honiton & Sidmouth constituency.

Richard is also the Liberal Democrats’ Defence Spokesperson, calling for more action to support the Ukrainian people in the wake of Putin’s illegal invasion. He has also pushed to end to violence raging in the Middle East through an immediate ceasefire, to protect lives and allow space for a two-state solution.

This event can only be watched IN-PERSON. Please kindly note the seats are limited.

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