Centre for Seapower and Strategy (CSS)

Raising knowledge, awareness and understanding of strategic and security issues as they relate to maritime affairs and the utility of seapower
An aerial photograph of Plymouth naval base. Photo: LA(PHOT) Paul A'Barrow./MOD [OGL (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/1/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Over the past few years, there has been growing interest in the issues of strategy and maritime security but far too little attention has been paid to the combination of the two issues. And yet there are clear and critical points of intersection. The impact of security issues on the maritime economy is emerging dramatically. A structured method to understand the risks and vulnerabilities but also to offer an applicable road map towards maintaining a sustainable security and strategy within the maritime industry is required.
In recent years, the discipline of strategic studies has evolved from the discrete study of interstate war to the myriad dynamics of conflict between human beings in a highly interdependent world. In addition, globalisation has brought many disruptive challenges closer to home: global pandemics; climate change; mass migration; transnational organised crime; transnational terrorism; the ‘hybrid warfare’ of state actors; and cyber attacks. The only way to understand the waves of disruption in our industries is through a multi-disciplinary effort. The only way to achieve resilience in practice is through a multi-agency effort and the synthesis of hitherto separate professional competencies.
The University of Plymouth's Centre for Seapower and Strategy (CSS) – formerly the Dartmouth Centre for Seapower and Strategy (DCSS) – was established to meet the clear and growing need to raise knowledge, awareness and understanding of strategic and security issues as they relate to maritime affairs and the use of seapower in the 21st century.

The CSS's industry-approved courses are offered in close collaboration with its partner agencies:

Hybrid threats analysis 

The CSS aligns subject matter experts from academia, government and industry to counter threats to security globally.
We aim to deliver detailed multidisciplinary analysis of the motivation, actions and locations of groups and individuals seeking to undermine the stability of democratic governments, the legitimacy of global business and the efficacy of international charities. 
Students and academics across the University and beyond are welcome to contribute their perspectives, comments, and analyses.
 
A woman using a laptop to access information on global shipping security and logistics
CSS news

Follow the latest activities of the CSS

University of Plymouth team members

Our associates

Damian J. Terrill

A background in behavioural science, with a particular interest in cross-cultural criminology and forensic psychology. Damian has experience in academia and the private and public sectors in New Zealand the United Kingdom. His current research focuses on the psychology of betrayal, insider threat and the role of intelligence in sub-threshold conflicts.

Ben Worsley

Twenty eight years' experience in the emerging markets. Responsibilities across Russia, the former CIS, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. In-depth work with financial operations, recruitment of senior individuals, deal origination, client management, and litigation strategy. Work covering the local emerging markets and London and New York.

Dr Georgios Mourtos

Local co-ordinator for the MA programme in Applied Strategy and International Security at the Hellenic National Defence College. Honorary Professor in Strategic Studies at the University of Plymouth.

James Bergeron

Political affairs advisor to Allied military leaders, served as POLAD to 11 maritime and joint service commanders. Honorary Professor in Strategic Studies at the University of Plymouth.

Allen Antrobus

Allen is Director Strategy for Air and Space at Serco. Before this, he worked for Airbus Defence and Space as Director Military Space. Allen supports the trade association body UKspace and is on a number of committees and working groups which seek to collectively support the UK government’s space ambition. Allen is a Visiting Research Fellow at the CSS, and has been a regular participant of the US Space Force Shreiver Wargame, leading the commercial team. Allen was a regular officer in the RAF for over 20 years, initially training as a Fighter Controller, and undertook several operational, training and staff roles across the UK and overseas. On leaving regular service, Allen worked for the UK Space Agency running a large EU programme.

Dr Markos Trichas

A Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Seapower and Strategy focusing on threats to critical spaceborne infrastructure and their impacts to naval and maritime operations. Dr Trichas is the Head of Engineering for Spaceborne C5ISR at BAE Systems, and spent 10 years at Airbus Defence and Space as the Head of UK Future Military Space programmes, three years at the High Energy Astrophysics Group at the Harvard–Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics as a Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellow and three years as a Research Associate at Imperial College London and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Imperial College London and a Masters in Astrophysics from the University of London. He has authored and co-authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications and has almost 11,000 citations to his work.

Jack Sharpe

A Major in His Majesty’s Royal Marines and a PhD candidate in Politics at the University of Plymouth. His thesis focuses on the impact of space and cyber domains on maritime security. More broadly, he is a cyber security and technology executive focused on strategic leadership, organisational transformation, and business development.
Portland Square