Dr Charles Knight explores how to reduce the risks and costs of combat amongst structures and populations – an interest sparked when, as a Parachute Regiment officer, he was tasked to develop urban combat and subterranean capabilities for confronting the Soviets in a German city. He is a senior researcher at the University of New South Wales, Canberra and an adjunct lecturer at Charles Sturt University.  His Masters research analysed vulnerabilities to asymmetric attacks in cities and his PhD examined coercion during counterinsurgency – both informed by field research in the Lebanon and Cambodia, as well as by uniformed service with the RAF, British and Omani Armies, and in Asia. In Australia he served in 1 Commando Regiment, commanded 2/17 Bn, Royal New South Wales Regiment, spent a decade in Special Operations development, drove reform of close combat training, and wrote the Australian Army urban doctrine. He can be followed @ChasAHKnight