The Council on Geostrategy is launching the Sea Power Laboratory to advance the Royal Navy’s vision for 2040, strengthening collaboration across the Navy, government, industry, and academia. This initiative aims to foster the next generation of maritime professionals while enhancing engagement on maritime security with key allies and partners. Demand on the resources of the Royal Navy is already increasing in intensity, with growing threats from adversaries including Russia in the Arctic and Euro-Atlantic, Iran and its proxies in the Middle East, and People’s Republic of China in the Indo-Pacific. Intended to foster a whole-of-society approach, the Sea Power Laboratory’s activities will aim to build a strategic understanding of the UK as a sea power state. Additionally, it will cultivate a new generation of maritime leaders and broaden maritime discourse to reach a wider audience.
With welcoming remarks from Luke Pollard MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, and V. Adm. Andrew Burns CB, OBE, Fleet Commander for the Royal Navy, this invitation-only launch event will be dedicated for 100 guests including senior officers, parliamentarians, Whitehall officials, diplomats, experts and corporate representatives.
Welcoming remarks
Luke Pollard MP
Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence
Luke Pollard MP is the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport. Luke is the first MP to be born in Plymouth since Michael Foot represented the city in 1945 and, as the son of a Royal Navy submariner based in Devonport, is proud to champion the British Armed Forces.
Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE
Fleet Commander, Royal Navy
Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE has been Fleet Commander since September 2021 and commands all operational arms of the Royal Navy. He joined the Royal Navy in 1989 as a University Cadet, and graduated from the University of Durham with a degree in geography. He has commanded the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Berkeley, the frigate HMS Somerset and the amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark. He has attended the Royal College of Defence Studies as an Associate Member and is a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (MA in Defence Studies, King’s College London) and the Higher Command and Staff Course.
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