Along with a long list of luminary academics who have contributed much to the maritime debate, I attended the launch of the RN Strategic Studies Centre (RNSSC) on 17 December 2019. It is located in the Naval Historic Branch building, in Portsmouth Dockyard, looking over the Mary Rose, HMS Victory and the berths for our two new aircraft carriers. Its purpose? In essence, to become that centre of gravity, that focus for strategic thought in the RN that captures intellectual capital relating to defence and the maritime case. And its launch is in the nick of time as the starting gun for SDSR 2020…
