University appoints security studies expert to lead Greenwich Maritime Institute
The University of Greenwich has appointed a security studies expert, Professor Christopher Bellamy, to be the new Director of the Greenwich Maritime Institute (GMI). This multidisciplinary centre for postgraduate teaching, research and consultancy works in the fields of maritime policy, history, economics and labour relations with a particular emphasis on the global nature of modern shipping.
Christopher Bellamy has been Head of the Security Studies Institute at Cranfield University since 1997 where he held the post of Professor of Military Science & Doctrine. He began his career as an Army officer, and then joined the Ministry of Defence as a civil servant, where he worked in the Naval Staff, before returning to academe to complete his PhD at Edinburgh and then spending seven years as Defence Correspondent of the Independent newspaper.
An international prize-winning scholar, Professor Bellamy was awarded the Westminster Medal for Military Literature by the Royal United Services Institute in 2008 for his book “Absolute War: Soviet Russia in the Second World War”. He has published widely and was Associate Editor to Richard Holmes, and a principal contributor, for “The Oxford Companion to Military History”. He was also Consultant Editor to “The Times Atlas of the Second World War”.
Professor Bellamy has wide-ranging research interests in contemporary maritime issues including global security, the environment and naval defence and security policy and strategy.
In his new role, Professor Bellamy will draw upon the university's long association with the shipping industry and the Armed Services, building on its academic strengths and developing them in new directions. He succeeds Professor Sarah Palmer, the founding Director of GMI, who is retiring from the university this summer.
Christopher Bellamy says: “After 13 years developing and running programmes in global security in its widest sense, I look forward to focussing on the 70 percent of the globe and the biosphere which is maritime: on all the problems there which need to be solved, and the treasures therein waiting to be unlocked. As one long fascinated by the sea, and as a Londoner, the opportunity to work at Greenwich with its world-beating combination of maritime heritage and naval tradition, and to steer GMI into the new millennium is a wonderful opportunity and an awesome responsibility.”
Baroness Blackstone, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, says: “I am delighted to have made such a strong appointment to this important post. With his excellent background in security studies, Christopher Bellamy has much to contribute to contemporary maritime research, especially in the areas of the security of the seas, which is a pressing international issue. I am confident that he will help Greenwich Maritime Institute to enhance its reputation as an internationally recognised centre of excellence for research and teaching.”
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For further information and additional images please contact:
Nick Davison
Press Officer
University of Greenwich
020 8331 8092
Notes to editors:
- Greenwich Maritime Institute offers postgraduate degrees in Maritime History, International Maritime Policy and Maritime Management and an Mphil/PhD in Maritime Studies.
- The activities of the Greenwich Maritime Institute are
- to engage in and facilitate scholarly research;
- to disseminate and publicise research findings;
- to provide postgraduate teaching in maritime studies;
- to develop maritime education;
- to act as a forum for exploration of maritime issues;
- to serve as a source of expertise for maritime business and government;
- to provide cost-effective maritime consultancy services.
- The institute is based at the heart of a World Heritage Site in Sir Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College, on the banks of the Thames at Greenwich. This site, now the home of the University of Greenwich, has played a key role in the nation’s maritime history.