Celebrating 30 years of War Studies at King’s

October 2024 marked 30 years since the launch of King’s Department of War Studies' undergraduate programme. 150 alumni from across our community gathered on the Strand Campus to celebrate the occasion.

The Department of War Studies was founded in 1962 by Professor Sir Michael Howard. His aim was to address ‘the problem of central concern to all mankind’. Over 60 years on, and our department is paving the way for War Studies departments across the world.

Conversations on key issues

Following in Sir Michael’s footsteps, we welcomed a fantastic line-up of world-leading speakers to King’s to celebrate this landmark. They tackled just some of the biggest issues facing our world today, while celebrating the success of our alumni. 

Emeritus Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman gave a keynote speech on how the BA War Studies programme has evolved since its beginnings, and Dr Hugo Rosemont reflected on the many eclectic careers our alumni have pursued since graduating.

Attendees were also treated to an intriguing panel discussion on the war in Ukraine. Panellists included Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin FKC (MA War Studies, 1990; PhD War Studies, 1996), Professor Rachel Kerr (PGCert Academic Pedagogic Practice, 2005; PhD War Studies, 2001) and PhD candidate Chris Pool (MA International Peace and Security, 2022; War Studies, 2003).

‘All the sessions were fantastic, filled with an incredible amount of knowledge and passion. Each speaker brought unique insights and enthusiasm, making the topics engaging and impactful,’ commented one of our guests.

Connections across generations

The day was a fantastic opportunity for alumni and staff to reconnect with one another and reminisce about their time at King’s.

Major General Zac Stenning and Professor Andrew Stewart (both War Studies, 1968) represented the very first cohort of graduates. The two men shared fond memories of their time on campus and the friendships formed at King’s.

Alumni joined us from across the decades, from 1968 graduates to our 2024 cohort. Since leaving King’s, all have trod different career paths – from roles in government and policy to international security.

In the words of Professor Matthew Moran, Head of the Department of War Studies: ‘Hosting this event was a real pleasure.  We welcomed back 150 former students from cohorts spanning over 50 years, and it was inspiring to see how they continue to feel connected to our War Studies community.’

Want to keep in touch with what’s happening at the department and other War Studies alumni? Join the War Studies LinkedIn group today.