Mark Phillips

Mark Phillips was Head of the RUSI Land Operations and Capabilities Programme from 2010-12. In this role he was responsible for leading policy analysis, independent research, expert discussion groups and high-level conferences.

Prior to joining RUSI, Mark was chief of staff to Baroness Neville-Jones during her time as shadow security minister and national security adviser to the leader of the opposition and, after the 2010 general election, security minister. In this capacity he managed all security legislation in Parliament, was speechwriter to Baroness Neville-Jones, and had a central role in developing the Conservative Party's national security policies and post-election implementation plan. 

His remit covered all aspects of national security, including the National Security Strategy, Strategic Defence and Security Review, machinery of government, intelligence, counter terrorism, resilience, Olympic security, stabilisation and conflict prevention, procurement and the role of industry in defence and security. Mark co-authored the Conservative Party's National Security Green Paper, A Resilient Nation (January 2010).

From 2006-08, Mark advised the shadow minister for defence, foreign affairs and international development in the House of Lords and was an adviser to the National and International Security Policy Group. He has also worked with RUSI and the UK Defence Forum on defence acquisition and Asia security issues.

Mark is an associate of King's College London and a graduate of their Department of War Studies. He has lectured to MA War Studies students on the Strategic Defence and Security Review, military covenant and role of Parliament in national security.