“British Defence Attaché, U.S.A.” – with Rear Admiral Tim Woods
Summary
Rear Admiral Tim Woods (Biography) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his role as Britain’s Defence Attaché to the United States. Tim previously served as the British Defence Attaché in Kyiv, Ukraine.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
- What does a Defense Attaché do
- How intelligence impacts military strategy
- Admiral Woods’ experience of the 2021 Russian invasion of Ukraine
- What it’s like to constantly be surveilled
Reflections
- The power of relationships and connections
- Sacrificing personal privacy for national security
And much, much more …
Episode Notes
This week on SpyCast, Andrew was joined by Real Admiral Tim Woods, the Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington. Tim has served over three decades in the Royal Navy, with posts including the British Defence Attaché to Ukraine and Head of the British Defence Staff in Eastern Europe, as well as active duty in Afghanistan.
In this episode, Andrew and Tim discuss the role of Defence Attaché and the importance of intelligence within the job. They also discuss Tim’s experience living and working in Kyiv in the months prior to Russia’s invasion of the country in 2021. What it was like to be under constant surveillance, how he dealt with the looming threat of Russian invasion, and what he felt when he heard the inevitable news. Tune in to hear more.
And…
Outside of the British Embassy here in Washington, D.C., you’ll find a statue of Sir Winston Churchill making his iconic “V for Victory” sign. Notice how Churchill’s statue seems to be walking, stepping one foot in American soil while keeping the other planted on British soil. The symbolism there is twofold: The partnership between the United States and Great Britian, and Churchill’s dual British-American ancestry!
Quotes of the Week
“The role of a Defense Attaché – It is persistent defense engagement in time of peace to prepare for time of crisis and war so that we've got the connective tissue in place when crisis happens.” – Rear Admiral Tim Woods.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
- Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023)
- Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023)
- Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)
*Beginner Resources*
- What Is The Five Eyes Alliance?, K. Haan, Forbes (2023) [Short article]
- Russian invasion of Ukraine: A visual timeline of the war, ABC News, YouTube (2023) [6 min. video]
- What is a defence attaché?, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (2007) [Backgrounder]
DEEPER DIVE
Books
- The Secret History of the Five Eyes: The untold story of the shadowy international spy network, R. Kerbaj (Blink Publishing, 2022)
- The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, S. Plokhy (Basic Books, 2017)
- Defense of the West, S. Sloan (Manchester University Press, 2016)
Articles
- Squaring the Triangle: Four Big Ideas from the Latest British Defense Review, S. Monaghan, Center for Strategic and International Studies (2023)
- Putting the UK Defence Command Paper Refresh into Context, W. Jessett, T. McKane & P. Watkins, The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (2023)
- An interview with the head of Ukraine’s defence intelligence, The Economist (2023)
- From Ruins to Resilience: The Path Toward Recovery in Ukraine, J. Cilliers, United States Institute of Peace (2023)
- Ukraine intel chief predicted Russia’s war. He says Crimea will be retaken., I. Khurshudyan, The Washington Post (2023)
- What the US can learn from the UK about strategic reviews, P. Watkins & W. Jessett, Atlantic Council (2021)
Video
- Conversation with Kyrylo Budanov, Lieutenant General, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Victor Pinchuk Foundation, YouTube (2023)
Primary Sources
- UK defence policy and the role of the armed forces (2023)
- Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a more contested and volatile world (2023)
- Defence Command Paper 2023: Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world (2023)
- Statement on the Salisbury & Amesbury Investigation by Neil Basu (2018)
- Strategic Defence and Security Review: First Annual Report (2010)
- Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine (1991)
*Wildcard Resource*
- Midway (1976)
- A (dramatic) retelling of the 1942 Battle of Midway, one of the most critical naval battles of the Second World War – A battle that perfectly exhibits the importance of intelligence in a time of war.
