Lecture | Coalition Warfare – What Drives And Influences Them?

In this lecture, Coalition Warfare, Lieutenant General John Cooper will discuss the factors that drive and influence operations within coalitions, drawing on his experience in multiple theatres, discussing current events and their possible impact on future alliance and coalition constructs.

John Cooper was brought up in Berwick Upon Tweed and commissioned into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in March 1974.  His early career included several tours in Northern Ireland, two tours in Zimbabwe in 1980 and 1986 and roles as Adjutant and company commander in BAOR.  He attended the Army Staff College in 1987 after which he was Chief of Staff of 8^th Infantry Brigade, commanded HM The Queen’s Royal Guard, Balmoral and commanded a rifle company in the 1^st Gulf War.   From 1994-1996, he Commanded 1 KOSB in South Armagh, Belfast and Edinburgh.

He commanded the newly formed 12^th Mechanized Brigade in Bosnia, the UK and Canada 1999-2001.  In 2002, he was sent to Washington DC as the Chief of Defence Staff’s Liaison Officer to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon working on operations in Afghanistan and the planning for operations in Iraq.  After a tour as Chief of Staff, Field Army he deployed as the first UK Deputy Commander to the coalition in Afghanistan in 2004.  On return he assumed command of 1^st (UK) Armoured Division in Germany and was deployed to Southern Iraq as GOC Multi-Division (South-East) at the end of 2005 within the US-led Coalition.  After a short tour commanding the Army’s collective training organisation, in 2008 he re-deployed to Iraq for a full year as Deputy Commander of the Coalition in Baghdad.  He was the only UK officer to be Deputy coalition commander in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He left the Army at the end of 2009.

6.30pm Drinks Reception (Drink included in ticket price), 7.00pm Lecture Commences

£12 non members | £10 Friends