Professor Anthony King

Director, Strategy and Security Institute

Leading war studies expert Professor Anthony King has been appointed as the Director of the University of Exeter’s pioneering Strategy and Security Institute.​

​Professor King said: “I’m delighted to work with colleagues at the Strategy and Security Institute to continue its work as a leading policy-facing research centre in the UK.”​

His inaugural lecture took place in December 2023, and you can view the recording here.

Dr David Blagden

Senior Lecturer in International Security

International politics is an anarchic realm that - unlike domestic politics - lacks a central authority capable of imposing security and order. As such, states must generate the power, guile, and strategic judgement to provide for their citizens’ security in a dangerous world. SSI was created to assist national security policymakers in fulfilling this grave task through theoretically rigorous yet practically applicable research and education. A decade on from its foundation, the Institute has established itself among the premier destinations for students and scholars intent on advancing international security through their understanding of prudent statecraft.

Dr Martin Robson

MStrat Programme Director

The Strategy and Security Institute exists to train our future leaders to give us all a ‘wiser future’. We do this through an interdisciplinary approach to inculcate a strategically educated mindset amongst our students: to be practical problem solvers, and to see opportunities where others only see difficulties. To this mindset we add a unique blend of practical strategic ‘tools’ drawn from the business and security and defence sectors. Our approach is to ‘educate the mindset and teach the skillset’, allowing our students to apply their knowledge, skills and behaviours to the complex and multifaceted challenges of the contemporary and future world.

Professor Frances Tammer

Professor of Strategy and Security

I joined the University in November 2022, having previously worked as a senior civil servant and leader in the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office. I bring to the Strategy and Security Institute my global strategic, policy, intelligence and operational experience, derived from working across Government and with NATO, the EU, the UN, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and multiple international partners and coalitions. In the UK I have serviced Prime Ministers, Ministers and the National Security Council and Parliament. On the international stage, I have worked with Ambassadors, Ministers, Military Heads and senior Civil Servants.