OUR STORY
UDSS is the brainchild of General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE and businessman Peter Hewitt JP. It was founded in 2019 as a platform for highly experienced ex-service, MOD and Civil Service personnel to continue to put their skills and experience to good use.
- Vision
- Mission
- Manifesto
UDSS is a leader in not only the delivery of practical advice and service in all areas of defence and security but also in the thinking and execution of digital age Defence and Security Transformation, including applied cyber.
UDSS provides the highest levels of advice in areas such as the development and implementation of:
- Defence policy, planning and programming,
- Military strategy and operational planning and execution,
- Digital age transformation and cyber,
- Mentoring,
- Wider security and operations other than war.
In doing so we also provide expertise to specialisms such as:
- Leadership,
- Policy development and implementation,
- Strategic planning,
- Defence and Service level force design,
- Organisation design,
- Education and training,
- Contested cyber environments,
- Logistics support and infrastructure management,
- Acquisition and capability management,
- Project management,
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
UDSS provides vision, strategy, operational and major project advice as well as delivery support to governments, armed forces, information technology companies, defence and national security organisations as well as private industry.
UDSS is working with governments, armed forces, industry and other organisations from around the world, both in an independent capacity as well as being part of government and industrial teams that cover a wide range of contemporary and future scenarios.
OUR PEOPLE
Universal Defence is unique in the world, with over 700 specialists, we have the largest team of former UK military from 4* to Warrant Officers across all of the 5 domains of Land, Sea, Air, Cyber and Space. As a result, we are able to cover policy and strategy through to technical advice, across the breadth of the defence and security sectors and in all domains, including cyber.
- Board of Directors
- Executive Team & Senior Leadership Team
Richard was formerly Commander of the Joint Forces Command, one of the six chiefs of staff of the British Armed Forces.
Read full bioPeter is the Co-Founder of UDSS. He has been Chairman or Director of 13 UK Public Companies over the last 25 years and was a founding director of 8.
Read full bioOsby was formerly the Head of UK Defence Intelligence. He has extensive experience of leadership and command, intelligence and cyber, force design and capability planning, and transformation.
Read full bioMark was Deputy to the Head of the British Army and led the Royal Logistic Corps. He has a reputation for insight, vision and counsel at the highest levels of UK military and political decision-making.
Read full bioDuncan led capability development for the Royal Navy and has commanded at 1 & 2* level for NATO, EU, and US-led coalition operations.
Read full bioDavid was formerly ACDS (Logistic Operations) in the UK MoD. He has extensive experience in operational military logistics and support acquisition in both the MoD and commercial sector.
Read full bioBrian had a 37 year career in government serving as a Senior Civil Service for his last 10 years. He has led a number of complex and high-value strategic transformational programmes across the Defence and Security sectors. A highly experienced Chartered Engineer, with strong digital delivery skills and a qualified Executive Leadership Coach.
Tobias Ellwood brings with him a wealth of knowledge accrued over decades of dedicated service to both the military and the government.
Kevin Fleming, is a physicist and maritime aviator, with a career spanning critical thinking, leadership, and global engagement. After earning his Physics degree from Imperial College London, he joined the Royal Navy.
After 37 years with the Royal Air Force, Peter retired in 2016. He is a qualified and experienced engineer, programme manager, consultant and executive leadership coach. As a consultant and coach he enjoys helping people making sense of complexity and deliver workable solutions.
Jonathan, a former Royal Navy Submariner supports Universal Defence and Security Solutions with his legal advice, ensuring that the company is compliant with the law and operates within legal boundaries.
Specialising in mentorship, Fidelma is a former AIM company Director, successful Business Mentor and NLP Practitioner for small—to medium-sized companies and private individuals.
John, with vast operational and MOD background, commanded four sea missions, including the 2011 Libyan maritime strike. He served in the MOD four times, advising on the Navy's finances and supporting the inaugural head of the Iraqi Navy.
Phil is a senior executive with a proven track record of success across a range of dynamic strategic, operational and tactical challenges with intimate experience of the machinery of government at local, national and international levels.
Angela is the UDSS Office Administrator and has been part of the team since 2021. In addition to everyday administrative tasks, she also oversees the membership and onboarding process, and monitor IR35 to ensure UDSS remains compliant with regulations.
Mark served for 20 years as a British Army Officer. He brings a wealth of multinational experience, working to international standards with government departments, commercial companies and NGOs in ME and Africa to UDSS.
Chrissie applies her expertise in business growth and recruitment, honed through her experience with the Royal Logistic Corps, to enhance UDSS' offer. She plays a key role in developing UDSS's network and initiatives.
Steve has had tours in strategic imagery analysis, tactical reconnaissance, intelligence-collection management, instructing, on exchange with the US, contingency planning, and in an outer office. His operational experience spans tours in the Afghanistan, Balkans, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey supporting air and land ops at tactical and joint operational level.
Gary served in the Royal Air Force for 34 years, retiring in 2019. His final role was as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations at The Permanent Joint Headquarters (UK).
With 33 years at GCHQ, Marcus became its deputy head and first Director of Cyber. Post-2018, he advises the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Red Cross on cyber matters. His publications cover state cyber power and the SolarWinds hack.
