Brigadier John Clark CBE

Brigadier John Clark was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1999. He has spent most of his career working with Airborne Forces although he has also served in armoured and mechanised units and formations, including as a mechanised brigade chief of staff. He has deployed on operations to Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan (three times) and Cyprus.
Brigadier Clark has commanded at brigade level and below and has experience of war fighting, combat and construction engineering, capacity building/indigenous force training, UN peacekeeping, and developing and maintaining very high readiness forces. He has also worked in the Ministry of Defence on the Army Strategy team with specific responsibility for strategic communications and cross-government engagement.
Brigadier Clark's education includes an undergraduate degree in Arabic (with Islamic Studies and History) from Oxford University, a master's degree in Military Art and Science from the US School of Advanced Military Studies, the UK Defence Higher Command and Staff Course and the Institute of Directors' Strategic Business Programme.
From September 2016 to September 2018 he worked as the Military Assistant to the Prime Minister with responsibility for the political-military interface, all Defence matters and Middle East foreign policy within No 10 Downing Street. Following this, he was appointed to command 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army's Global Response Force.
From summer 2020 until publication, he worked in the Ministry of Defence on the Army's contribution to the Government's Integrated Review.
He was appointed the Army’s Head of Strategy in February 2021.

Brigadier Mark Totten

Brigadier Mark Totten joined the Royal Marines in 1998 and passed for duty in September 1999. His early career was dominated by Regimental duty - at 40 Commando Royal Marines, the United Kingdom Landing Force Support Group (now 30 Commando IX Group) and at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). During this period, he saw operational service in Norther Ireland and Iraq, and had the privilege of training new-entry Royal Marines.

Following promotion to Major, he returned to CTCRM as the Adjutant, before re-joining 40 Commando as Officer Commanding B Company. In this role he deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan, as part of the NATO Security and Assistance Force and was awarded an MBE for his contribution – recognition that rested on the efforts of the entire Company.

Progressing to Lt Col in 2012, he spent a year as the lead planner within the UK’s 2* Amphibious Headquarters. From there, he returned to 3 Commando Brigade - first as the Chief of Staff within the Brigade Headquarters and then as Commanding Officer of 42 Commando Royal Marines. For his service to the Commando Brigade in these appointments he was promoted to OBE.

As a Colonel, he was Chief of Staff to both the EU Naval Force ATALANTA, running counter piracy operations in the Horn of Africa, and to Commander UK Strike Force, the UK's 2* Maritime Component Command. After leading the team that developed the Future Commando Force concept for the Integrated Review of 2021, he was promoted to Brigadier and is now the Senior Responsible Owner for Commando Force Development within Navy Command.

Brigadier Totten’s undergraduate degree is in modern languages and he has a MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London. He is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy.

Colonel (Ret'd) Richard Hansen

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product,
project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

Colonel Jan H. Vonk

Colonel Jan H. Vonk graduated from the Academy in 1988. He started his career in operational positions varying from platoon to brigade level. He also served in Slovakia setting up the NATO/PfP Junior Staff Officers Course.
In 2009 he finished the General Staff Officers Course in Hamburg followed by an assignment in 1 German Netherlands Corps. After this he reorganized 1 NLD CIMIC battalion into 1 NLD CMI Command as the CO. After this he served in 43 Bde HQ, Army HQ and the Land Warfare Centre. He has conducted 4 operational tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
Colonel Vonk is program leader STRONG since 2019.

Colonel Michael Bassingthwaighte

Colonel Michael Bassingthwaighte was appointed as the Army Adviser, London at Australia’s High Commission in London in 2020.

He has seen operational service in East Timor (1999), Iraq (2006 & 2019), Afghanistan (2007/2008) and Fiji (2016). Colonel Bassingthwaighte is a graduate of the Royal Military College and the US Army Command and General Staff College and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in the 2009 Australia Day Honours List for his service as Officer Commanding, Combat Team SPEAR, RTF-3 on OP SLIPPER in Afghanistan.

Dr Darren Browning

Dr Darren Browning works for Dstl as senior technical lead on Power Sources. He manages and performs research into a range of power systems for all three MOD services, but has recently specialised on the dismounted soldier. Darren also leads on a range of international collaborations including chairing the NATO Land Capability Group Power Team of Experts.
Over the past 25 years he has worked for DRA, QinetiQ and now Dstl on many aspects of energy storage including batteries, fuel cells and energy harvesting for a wide range of military and commercial applications.

Dr Elizabeth Mezzacappa

Elizabeth Mezzacappa, PhD, is the Human Research Lead at the US Army’s Tactical Behavior Research Laboratory. Her research spans a wide range of human behavioral experiments related to armaments, including non-lethal weapon effectiveness, machine learning from human data for artificial intelligence, performance evaluation for counter-terrorism exercises, and psychophysiological methods for Soldier-Armament Integration. She has received a 2008 Army Science Best Paper Award, 2012 and 2013 Army Research and Development Achievement Awards, and the 2018 Military Operations Research Society Journal Award. Mezzacappa received her BAs from the University of Pennsylvania, her PhD from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Dr Nicolas Mueller

Dr. Nicolas G. Mueller studied chemistry, physics and national security. 6 years research in laser engineering, worked several years as ICRC coordinator/delegate, 1999-2001 in Afghanistan. Worked 2001-2005 as international strategy consultant. Subsequently in Joint Staff as PM Swiss Information Operations Force. 2007-2016 he was the federal crisis management advisor, directed the federal strategic crisis exercises, organized yearly OECD conferences and advised the Swiss Government in crisis early warning and -management. Since 2017 Head Weapons and Ammunition at armasuisse. General staff colonel, former deputy head of operations (G3) of Swiss Land Forces and reconnaissance battalion commander. Adjunct professor at Geneva School of Diplomacy, teaches national crisis management and future of warfare.

Dr Robb Wilcox

Dr. Robb Wilcox is the US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center’s Science and Technology Lead for International Programs and Human Systems Performance. In these roles, he leads international engagements and important Soldier Center efforts in Human Systems Performance by shaping the strategy, research activities and relationships across a breadth of RDT&E efforts. He was previously the Director of the Soldier Performance Optimization Directorate at the DEVCOM SC and was responsible for approximately 120 soldier performance team leaders, scientists, engineers and specialists developing new capabilities through research and development to improve Soldier performance. Dr. Wilcox was also the Chief Scientist of the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) – Atlantic based in London, UK from 2012-2017. In this role he served as the principal RDECOM-ATL technical expert in the UK, Europe, the Middle East as well as Africa for the Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Dawe

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Dawe joined the Army in 2001, commissioning into the Scots Guards. Initially posted to London on ceremonial duties, he then served as a Platoon Commander in the Guards Training Division, Catterick. Further postings included Poland, Canada and Germany where he was an Armoured Infantry Platoon and Company Commander. He worked in Joint Capabilities in the MoD during SDSR15 and is experienced in several other key Staff appointment roles, both in the MoD and in the Field Army. He has completed multiple tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan and overseas short-term training tasks (STTT).

Lieutenant Colonel Denny Dresch

LTC Denny Dresch graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as an Infantry officer in May 2003. His first duty assignment was with the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division where he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader, Anti-Armor Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Battalion S-4. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2005-2006. Following his assignment with the 82nd Airborne Division, LTC Dresch was assigned to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania where he served as an Assistant Battalion S-3 with the 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry (AC/RC). His battalion was responsible for the mobilization, training, and deployment of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) from the Pennsylvania National Guard.

After completing the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning, LTC Dresch served as an Assistant Brigade S-3 for the 4th SBCT, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2009-2010 where he served as Commander, Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry. Upon redeployment, LTC Dresch was assigned as the Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry.

Following command, LTC Dresch attended the Army Acquisition Basic Course and was assigned as an Acquisition’s Staff Officer to the Training and Doctrine Command’s (TRADOC) Capabilities Integration Center at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. In this role, he worked closely with TRADOC Capability Managers and Capability Development Integration Directorates to execute annual Capability Needs Analysis. Following completion of Intermediate Level Education at Fort Belvoir, LTC Dresch was assigned to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense as an Assistant Product Manager (APM). LTC Dresch was responsible for the cost, schedule and performance of the Automated Installation Entry. His next assignment was to the Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he served as an Acquisition Management Branch Assignment Officer. LTC Dresch was then assigned as the Military Deputy to the Director of the Night Vision Electronic Sensor Directorate at Fort Belvoir, Virginia where he worked on the Integrated Visual Augmentation System. LTC Dresch has a Master’s in Business Administration from Liberty University. He has also completed the Acquisition Intermediate Qualification Course and is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level III trained in Program Management.

LTC Dresch last served as the Assistant Executive Officer to the Military Deputy for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology.

LTC Dresch’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. He has been awarded the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and Advance Airborne Course.

LTC Dresch is married to the former Miss Rebecca Morris and has four children.

Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Davies

Lt Col Gareth Davies took over as SO1 Soldier Systems in Jan 2019. His main role is to deliver new Dismounted Close Combat capabilities to service across the Defence Lines of Development. He is the lead in setting up TommyWorks, a new organisation focussing on Soldier System Integration and more agile and iterative delivery of future capabilities. Career wise, he has completed 5 operational tours as an infantry commander including Iraq and Afghanistan twice and has previous experience as a Requirements Manager for the FIST programme and Chief of Staff of Soldier, Training and Special Projects team within DE&S.

Lieutenant Colonel Johan Skiöld

Short military background of Lt Col Johan Skiöld

85-86 Military service Ranger bn
86-87 Officer academy
87-90 Instructor Ranger bn (airborne ranger course 89)
90-91 Officer academy (lt)
91-92 Arctic ranger bn
92-93 Plt leader ranger bn
93-94 Captains course
94-98 Plt leader ranger
98-99 Major course
99-01 Coy commander (air assault)
01-03 Army HQ staff officer
03-05 Coy com (air assault)
05-07 Ranger reg G3/7
07-09 National def college Lt Col
09-10 C G3
10-14 Com Bn (air assault) Afg 11-12.
14-16 Com Education LWC
16-17 Plans policy dep HQ
17-20 OPR Swe army ex.
20-- DCOM LWC

Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Forlani

Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Forlani is a graduate of the Italian Military High School and the Military Academy.
Graduate of the German Defense Command and Staff College (LGAN).
Holds various academic degrees in Strategic, Political and International Security studies.
Cavalry Officer, has commanded units from platoon to battalion in the armored and light armor reconnaissance roles.
His operational tours include multiple services in Iraq and South Lebanon.
He served in staff roles at the Italian Army General Staff and the German Army Command.
Since October 2019 he serves as Section Head, Capability Development Directorate of the Italian Army General Staff.

Lieutenant Colonel Sébastien Gasnier

LTC GASNIER joined the Infantry in 2001 after his initial course at the academy of Saint-Cyr. Posted in a Airborne Infantry Regiment from 2001 to 2009 as platoon leader to company commander, he has been deployed couple of times in Africa, in Pacific and served also within international commitments in Lebanon, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Teacher at the capitains’ course, staff college graduated, LTC GASNIER has been the first exchange officier posted in 1(UK)DIV HQ / YORK from 2015 to 2018.
Currently based in Draguignan, he is the 2IC of the Infantry Doctrinal And Advanced Studies Department.
LTC GASNIER is single and a rubgy fan, but exclusively in case of French victory over the British team.

Major Ivo Peets

Education: 

2006–2009 Estonian National Defence College (ENDC), professional higher education in Military Leadership; 2017-2021 Tallinn University , M.Sc studies in Governmental sciences; since 2021 PhD Doctoral Studies at Tallinn University (Defence planning and management).

Professional career:

2009–2011 Estonian Defence Forces (EDF), Kuperjanov Battalion, Platoon Commander; 2011–2013 Scouts Battalion, Platoon Commander (deployment to Afghanistan); 2013–2015 Kalev Battalion, Company Commander, 2015-2018 Battalion Staff Chief of Operations; 2018 - 2021 Estonian Defence Forces Headquartes, Analysis and Planning Department Senior Staff Officer; since 2020 Lead of Estonian Defence Forces Force Capability Development Project.

Major Jari Tiilikka

Major Jari Tiilikka is an infantry officer with over 20 years of experience in Finnish Defence Forces. He is currently serving as the Program Manager for Finnish Dismounted Soldier System program. His previous assignments include research (tactics and operational art) at Army Land Warfare Centre, tour of duty in ISAF operation and different positions in the Finnish urban warfare Centre of Excellence, Guard Jaeger Regiment.

Major Magnus Hallberg

Infantry officer, the career consists of a mix of different positions within infantry and Mechanized battalions.
Graduated from Staff collage 2002 and completed Battalion Commander Course 2003, since 2004 at Land Warfare Centre development department.
Test and trial manager on Swedish soldier modernization, PM/ReqM on Combat clothing and PPE.
A member of LCG DSS since 2004, Deputy Chairman 2012-18, Chairman 2019---
Involved in the NORDEFCO project on Nordic Combat Uniform as leader of the User Working Group.

Major Marco Dâmaso

Major Marco Dâmaso is an active duty officer in the Swiss Armed Forces since 1989 and currently works as a system portfolio manager for special units at the Swiss Armed Forces Planning Division. Furthermore, Marco is responsible for the development and implementation of the future soldier technologies as well as the soldier augmentation within the Swiss Armed Forces. After attending the Military Academy Marco served as an instructor in the Motorized Infantry School and in the Infantry Training Centre. Afterwards he worked for the “Army 21 reform program” to create and build up the Swiss Special Forces Command, where he was the head of training and R&D for the command for 14 years. During this time Marco initiated and conducted a field-test with a powered leg exoskeleton.

Major Yoav Galster

Education
2015-2017 - M.B.A Business Management, Executive program
2006-2010 - B.Sc Industrial Engineering

Employment & Military
IMOD \ DDR&D \ Land Systems Division \ Infantry & SF Branch
2017-Now - Major, Head of Infantry & Commando section. Manage dismounted soldier R&D.
IDF - Weapon Systems Department, Planning Division, Ground Forces Command
Artillery branch
2014-2017 - Major, Head of Rocket section. PM - budget, supervise tests, development and purchase of rockets & launchers.
Infantry branch
2009-2014 - Major, Head of Combat gear section. PM - budget, supervise tests, development and purchase of small arms, munitions, optics (sights, NVG, etc.), LCP.
2005-2009 – Captain, Weapons section. Lead field tests, define combat needs - SMG's, mortars, RCWS, sniping etc.
2004-2005 – Lieutenant, SF section. Lead field tests, define combat needs with the user etc.
2000-2004 - Combat paratrooper & officer (Infantry Company Commander).
2011-2020 – Reserve Infantry Company Commander

Mr Andrew Murdoch

Mr Andrew Murdoch has been with Glenair since 2018 working as the Business Development Manager and Subject Matter Expert on the STAR-PAN product line. Initially based in the UK, Andrew recently relocated to the United States where he is responsible for tactical interconnect solutions in USA/CAN/NZ/AUS/ASIA and Israel. Prior to this position, Andrew served 15 years as a Royal Marines Commando and member of United Kingdom Special Forces with multiple tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and other Global operational theatres. As a communications specialist and qualified JTAC, Andrew spent his final few years of military employment developing and testing soldier worn situational awareness and DACAS systems.

Mr Charlie Bellsham

Mr Chris Wood

Mr Daan Ruhe

Daan is the LTAC Product Specialist within Inmarsat’s Global Government Business Unit, a division that was created to focus specifically on the explicit requirements of government users across military, public safety, border protection and emergency services.

Inmarsat is a global leader in mobile satellite communication and has been serving governments around the world since it was originally founded by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1979 to ensure the safety of life at sea. The Global Government Business Unit is specifically tasked with delivering communication certainty to government across air, land and sea. If you need global mobile communications that must work, Inmarsat is the only solution that does so. Every time.

Daan is responsible for managing Inmarsat’s L-TAC service. L-TAC, when coupled with the Spectra SlingShot applique and a small antenna, is a unique, lightweight, low-power satcom system that enables existing, in-service tactical military and commercial VHF/UHF radios to utilize Inmarsat’s global L-band GEO satellite coverage, effectively providing a radio repeater in space, allowing these radios to be used beyond line of sight, globally.

Daan joined Inmarsat in 2015 having worked previously as a Solution Architect with Verizon Enterprise Solutions. Daan brings over 20 years of experience in telecommunications to the role and is a believer in true collaboration between government and industry to help build real solutions to real end user challenges. As such you are far more likely to find him out in the field, talking to operation teams about communications challenges and requirements, demonstrating capability and helping to find efficient solutions that help build situational awareness and deliver operational success.

Mr Geert Vanlinthout

Geert Vanlinthout, born 1964, lives in Leuven and Bonn.
In 1987, he joined the Infantry Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn after completing his education at the Belgian Royal Military Academy. Throughout his military career, he has executed different functions in the unit, schools and headquarters: including company commander, staff officer at a German Division and NATO Headquarters Heidelberg, battalion commander, G3 at the Belgian Land Component Command Headquarters. He was deployed five times overseas: UNPROFOR, ISAF (3x), UNIFIL.
In June 2015, he joined OCCAR-EA as Head of Corporate Support Division. Since May 2020, he leads OCCAR’s Night Vision Capability Programme.

Mr Grant Guy

Served 15 years in 29 Commando Royal Artillery. Serving as a fire controller on multiple operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan and various exercises throughout the world with commando forces.  
Joined Glenair in January 2020 as the UK business development manager for MIL interconnect and STAR-PAN. 

Mr Ian Blower

Ian Blower is European Modernisation Director for the Communications Systems Segment of L3Harris Technologies.
L3Harris Communications Systems covers a broad portfolio, including tactical and airborne radios, night vision technology, and defence and public safety networks.
He is responsible for the solution design, technology and capture of large modernisation programmes across Europe. He works with customers to understand their needs, assists with overall programme and system design, then leads the Company’s efforts to fulfill those requirements. He reports into Vice President Europe & Canada.

He served in the British Army for 27 years, completing operational tours in Europe and the Middle East. Latterly, he specialised in Defence Procurement working on vehicle programmes, simulation and training systems and CIS from the strategic to tactical levels.
He was awarded an MBE for his work in Combat Identification and antifratricide technology. On leaving the Army he worked in cyber, crypto and tactical CIS before joining L3Harris in 2017.
He is a Chartered Engineer and member of the member of Institution of  Engineering and Technology. Ian has a BSc degree in Information Technology and an MSc in Defence Simulation and Modelling from Cranfield University. He also has an MA in Defence Studies – King’s College London and attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the UK’s Defence Academy

Mr Johan M. Solli

Mr Jonathan Russell

Jonathan is a Senior Principal Scientist within the Physical Sciences Group at Dstl, Porton Down, UK. He is technical lead for the Land Systems Programme Dismounted Protection Project, and Dstl’s Project Technical Authority for the Dismounted Solder Systems project.
He is an active member of the NATO Land Capability Group Dismounted Soldier System (LCGDSS) Combat Clothing Individual Equipment and Protection (CCIEP) group, member of the STANAG 2920 Team of Experts, chair of the Head Borne Systems Team of Experts, and chair of STANAG 2902 Test and Evaluation Criteria for Combat Helmets.
He is a subject matter expert in physical protection having joined Dstl in 2005, developing and analysing vulnerability and lethality concepts for UK land vehicles. He has spent the last 11 years working in the dismounted protection domain, researching, developing and supporting UK MOD procurement programmes, and technical lead for INVICTUS – the technical programme board for VIRTUS. Jonathan is also the Project Technical Authority for the Dismounted Soldier Systems Project, delivering an articulation of future dismounted soldier system capability that will enhance Ground Manoeuvre operational effectiveness. Focusing on the integration of technology from the broader S&T portfolio: lethality, protection, mobility, C4ISR and sustainability domains.
 

Mr Miguel Ramos

Education: MSc in Aeronautical Engineering, PgC in Technology Management, Prince 2 and MSP Practitioner.
Experience: 27 years of experience providing and managing in-service support for military systems. After 5 years serving in the Spanish Air Force as Project Officer at Logistics Center for Armament and Experimentation (CLAEX), he joined NSPA (former NAMSA) in 1999 responsible for anti-tank systems support, later expanded to Land Combat Missiles and Electro-Optical Systems and since 2014 responsible for the Engineering and Project Support Branch (Air and Land Combat Systems Programme) where he is leading a team of 50 engineers and technicians providing project support and technical assistance for Life Cycle Management of combat systems including missiles, artillery and armoured vehicles.

Mr Nick Taylor

Nick was appointed as the Head of Soldier, Training and Special Projects in the UK MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation in April 2018

Nick has had a diverse career within the MoD since joining them in 1992. From December 2008, he was the Head of the Land and Joint Training and Simulation Systems Programme (JBTSE) in DE&S, responsible for the procurement and support of the British Army’s collective training systems as well as armoured vehicle gunnery and crew training systems. In August 2013, he was promoted to the Senior Civil Service in the Army Recruiting and Training Division as the Director Programmes, responsible for all major projects. In 2016, He moved assignments back to DE&S as the Head of Function for Project Management, initially in the Air Domain, but latterly for the whole of DE&S.

As well as being a graduate of the UK Government’s Major Project Leadership Academy, Nick is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Chartered Project Professional with the Association for Project Management with 29 years’ experience of Project and Programme Management with the UK MoD.

Mr Nick Wood

Mr Pascal Sécretin

A graduate of Saint Cyr and Centrale Supélec, Pascal Sécretin joined the Thales Group in 2012 after a career as a paratrooper officer marked by numerous operational engagements overseas, notably in Africa, former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.
Formerly in charge of bids for intelligence information systems, UAVs and Scorpion, he successfully led the capture of the French SMDR contract for frontline ISTAR mini UAVs. He is currently Imagers and Sensors product line director.
He proposes and leads the strategy for the perception capabilities of soldiers and contact units: mini UAVs, optronics, perception system.
Pascal Sécretin is a Knight of the Légion d’Honneur.

Mr Ringo Smits

Mr. Ringo Smits spent over 22 years in the Royal Netherlands Army before joining Glenair in 2020. He fulfilled various positions in both Armoured and Long-Range Reconnaissance units. The last decade of his military career he spent as a qualified JTAC and JTAC-Instructor, fulfilling multiple positions in this specialist field. His military career included multiple operational deployments to the Balkans and Afghanistan. At Glenair Ringo Smits is dedicated to working with NATO and NATO friendly countries to provide interoperability solutions for the War Fighters Data Communication and Power needs.

Mr Rob Garth

Rob Garth is the Product Director for Video and IP MESH at Domo Tactical Communications (DTC). With a background in RF engineering, Rob has more than twenty years in the development and delivery of robust tactical and fixed wireless systems for both military and civil applications, from simple FM links to multi-Megabit COFDM MESH systems and data pipes on the ground, in the air and at sea.

Rob was formerly Technical Director at Wood & Douglas, where he spearheaded the development of software-defined radio systems before leading the sale of W&D in 2013. Since joining DTC, Rob has been responsible for the product roadmap of DTC’s world-leading range of COFDM IP Mesh and Point To Point link products.

Mr Ryan Claughton

Mr Thomas Eskriett

o Tom leads Roke’s Information Advantage business, comprising Soldier Systems, ISTAR, Tactical CIS and Multi Domain Integration. Tom is a Chartered Systems Engineer and Certified Enterprise Architect with experience leading the technical delivery of Force Protection, Electronic Warfare, Unmanned Systems, Soldier Platforms and Helicopter Mission Systems. Prior to joining Roke, Tom was a Systems Engineer with Lockheed Martin UK. He served in the British Army Reserves with 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment deploying on Operation Herrick 8. Tom is a graduate of the University of Sheffield and Henley Business School having studied Computer Systems Engineering and an MBA respectively.

Ms Ilse Kroesen

Since mid-2018 Ms Ilse Kroesen has been working at the Defence Organisation Materiel on projects regarding equipment of the soldier. With her Msc degree and background as an Industrial Design Engineer the position as an System Integration Manager for developing an Individual Soldier System was a good match. In this role Ms Kroesen’s responsibilities were to develop, test and deliver a modular system for personal equipment regarding a vest-system, ballistic protection and backpacks. Within this modular system articles needed to be interfaced, but also with other systems, like C4I, CBRN, clothing and helmets.
Since mid-2021 Ms Kroesen’s role as a System Integration Manager has been expanded in chairperson for the coordination board of the individual soldier. The main goal of this board is to coordinate the entire lifetime of the equipment within the cubic meters around the soldier and if needed giving advice in adapting new innovations. In these cubic meters different systems have interfaces with each other which has a huge effect on the capabilities and the performance of the soldier. Another important aspect is that the soldier has to operate in his own environment. For example, a soldier needs to sit safely and ready for action in a vehicle or in a Chinook. Ms Kroesen’s communication skills assist in achieving the required coordination and synchronization between all actors.