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PAUL SMYTH CV
paul.smyth@r3iconsulting.com
Profile
MA qualified, pragmatic professional with a rare mix of military and think-tank employment. An extensive career encompasses operational and combat experience, research and analysis, strategic liaison, training and assessment roles, international collaboration and providing expert commentary to media organisations. Able to provide defence subject matter expertise and analysis, and to advise on strategic communications, crisis management, effective planning, performance setting, presentation skills, leadership, training and working with the media.
Key Skills
The ability to:
- analyse and resolve complex dynamic problems;
- communicate effectively in the written or spoken word;
- contribute to policy debate, conduct relevant research/analysis and provide consultative advice;
- provide subject matter expertise to national and international media:
- engage with stakeholders and reinforce partnerships through collaboration and liaison;
- proactively generate/evolve doctrinal concepts;
- monitor, assess and improve performance in demanding professional arenas;
- mentor individuals from a range of nations and cultures;
- initiate change in working practices;
- prioritize and multi-task in a high-pressure environment whilst maintaining a sense of humour.
History
2009-Present: self-employed venture, R3I Consulting www.r3iconsulting.com, bar a short stint in 2010 as a Military Operations Analyst, at Knowledge Point, UAE.
2009-06: Programme Head at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Whitehall.
2006: Advisor/Fellow, MOD’s Advanced Research & Assessment Group, UK Defence Academy.
2005: Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Liaison Officer to Washington DC.
2005-2002: Directing Staff at the UK’s Joint Services Command and Staff College.
2002-1980: Numerous military appointments and training courses.
Experience
As a Self-employed Analyst/Commentator:
- provided subject matter expertise to BBC TV News, Sky News, Al-Jazeera, BBC Radio 4 & 5 Live, the World Service, AFP, CNN, Voice of America, CBC, and various other media stations;
- authored articles published in the Daily Telegraph, The Times, Daily Express and The Guardian Comment Is Free web site;
- interviewed by journalists from various media (e.g. The Guardian, Observer, Bloomberg);
A current UK Ministry of Defence (Directorate of Media Communications) trusted agent. Available to provide support to the Ministry on relevant issues within the public domain.
As a Head of Programme at RUSI:
- provided subject matter expertise for current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq;
- conducted analysis and research on a range of defence and security issues, authoring various commentaries, articles and reports;
- collaborated/liaised with MOD, NATO, US National Defence University, the Institute for Defense Analyses, the European Defence Agency, various defence companies, other government departments (e.g. the cross-Whitehall Afghanistan Strategy Group), non-governmental organisations, academics, political parties and media contacts on relevant activity;
- responsible for Programme events including major international conferences.
As Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Liaison Officer (ACDSLO) Washington, with a 1-star CDSLO:
- represented the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) on highly classified issues of national sensitivity at the US Departments of Defence (Pentagon), State and the National Security Council building;
- acted as a conduit for US-UK strategic and operational policy co-ordination and implementation, responsible for maintaining/enhancing US-UK Strategic cooperation and understanding in Washington with respect to military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and occasionally the US ‘Global War on Terror‘;
- advised US interlocutors of developing UK policy and articulated US thinking to Whitehall;
- contributed to inter-agency co-ordination and understanding;
- influenced collaboratively the evolution of Pentagon staff’s operational assessment capability.
As a member of the Directing Staff (DS) at the UK's Joint Services Command & Staff College (JSCSC), Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC):
- facilitated instruction of the core Decision-Making and Military Planning syllabus (essentially the tuition of UK Campaign Planning doctrine);
- provided advice/tuition to external agencies on Campaign Planning topics;
- produced, amended and delivered modules within the ACSC syllabus;
- presented lectures to an audience of over 300 students and staff from over 40 countries;
- acted as a mentor responsible for the management, tuition, assessment and personal development of international groups of senior military personnel;
- supervised class discussion periods and group activities.
Assessed by the College Commandant to be amongst the top third of College DS (from any Service).
As a Staff Officer in the Operations (J3) Division of the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ):
- worked as an Operations Team Desk Officer with daily oversight of UK Joint operations in the Middle East and later the Balkans;
- acted as a conduit for internal co-ordination and external liaison on relevant J3 activity;
- contributed to the staffing of strategic/operational papers/directives;
- completed a period as the J3 Division Coordinator, where duties included acting as Military Assistant to the 1-Star Officer who commanded the J3 Operations Division;
- supplied subject matter expertise for air-to-ground attack issues.
Assessed as one of the top Staff Officers in the Operations Division.
As a Fellow/Advisor at MOD’s Advanced Research & Assessment Group (ARAG):
- contributed to ARAG support to the Secretary of State for Defence’s office;
- conducted an internal examination of ARAG’s mission, structure and outputs;
- contributed to ARAG activity on Islam, terrorism and post-graduate military education;
- authored a paper on UK involvement in Afghanistan.
As a commissioned officer/fast-jet aircrew, military career also encompassed:
- acting as Executive Officer on a front-line Tornado reconnaissance squadron, responsible to unit Commander for the safe conduct and supervision of flying duties, the leadership and management of delegated squadron personnel and the planning and execution of devolved squadron tasks;
- being a member of the RAF’s Tornado Standardisation Unit, responsible for the assessment and appraisal of aircrew proficiency on all front-line Tornado Ground-Attack/Reconnaissance squadrons; - having responsibility for the assessment, development and welfare of subordinate personnel;
- the routine expectation of initiative, integrity, good performance under pressure and the authoritative delivery of briefings and presentations.
Miscellany
Retired as a Wing Commander at an optional retirement point. Awarded an Masters Degree (with Merit) in Defence Studies by King’s College London in 2002.
Holds a current UK Secret security clearance, and previously held Top Secret security clearances.
A member of the UK government’s Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG).
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