History is more than a record of past events. It helps us understand how people, institutions and governments made choices, why those choices mattered, and how they continue to shape the present.
My work focuses on public policy and national strategy in relation to aviation and the military. I am interested not only in what happened, but in why innovation succeeds or fails, how organisations learn—or fail to learn—and how historical narratives are constructed.
I am the author of five books, most recently The Political History of British Aviation 1909–1949: Technology in a Liberal Democracy. My earlier work includes Forgotten Anzacs: The Campaign in Greece, 1941, together with studies of Australian military history. My research has also appeared in peer-reviewed journals covering aviation history, military history and the history of technology.
Alongside my academic work, I have written documentary scripts and worked on film projects that bring historical and contemporary social issues to wider audiences. This work includes scripting the 90 minute feature documentary ANZAC: the Greek Chapter for the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee.
Alongside my books and academic articles, I will also publish occasional essays that explore the historical background to contemporary issues in public policy, defence, technology and national strategy. These pieces are intended for a broader readership and aim to show how historical perspectives can inform present-day debates.
Whether you are interested in British aviation, Australian military history, defence policy or the history of technology, I hope you find something here that encourages you to explore further.
Books
My books examine war, aviation, public policy and technological change. They range from operational studies of military campaigns to broader analyses of how governments and institutions shape innovation.
Articles
A selection of published journal articles and essays exploring aviation history, military history, defence policy and the history of technology.
Current Research
Current research includes studies of the de Havilland Mosquito, the Advanced Air Striking Force in France in 1940, civil–military relations under the Liberal governments before the First World War, and the relationship between knowledge and decision-making at Gallipoli.
About
Learn more about my background as a historian, researcher and writer, together with my work in documentary production and public policy.
Contact
For enquiries about publications, research, speaking or related projects, please use the contact page.