Ruth Harris

Ruth Harris

Director Defence and Security Research

RAND, United Kingdom

Ruth Harris has been the Director of the Defence & Security Group at RAND Europe since 2019. She previously worked for 5 years in the humanitarian and disaster relief sector in Africa and following this for 25 years in the Royal Air Force, holding appointments within NATO, the UK MOD, Cabinet Office and serving on multiple operations across Afghanistan, Middle East, Africa and the Balkans.

She now leads a group of 40+ researchers conducting evidence-based research for clients across the Defence Ministries in Europe and the UK, government security services, the EU, NATO and other government departments on subjects including acquisition, strategy, future threats, CT/CVE, futures and foresight analysis, resilience, reconstruction, technological advantage, space, veterans welfare and climate and energy security. Ruth’s specific expertise focuses on geopolitics, resilience, reconstruction and related global issues. Her team leads several large frameworks including a large consortium that delivers research in support of the UK Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre and works in partnership with Kings College London to deliver education to the UK Joint and International Command and Staff College.

She was a Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University, where her focus was on the future strategic threats, she holds a MA in Defence and Security Studies and an MSc in Conflict Studies and Disaster Response.