Jacob Parakilas
Research Leader for Defence Strategy, Policy, and Capabilities at RAND Europe
Dr Jacob Parakilas is Research Leader for Defence Strategy, Policy, and Capabilities at RAND Europe. Previously, Dr Parakilas worked on the US-UK defence relationship as part of the State Department’s Political-Military team at Embassy London. Dr Parakilas also lived in Lagos, Nigeria, where he consulted and wrote a column on defence technology and the future of warfare. Prior to that, he was the deputy head of the US programme at Chatham House, working on issues relating to the US role in the world and foreign perceptions of America. In that role, he led the development of the operational concept for the Chatham House Simulation Centre and coordinated seven policy wargames. He has also worked as Head of Weapons at Action on Armed Violence, an NGO working on armed violence reduction worldwide, and at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, certifying American educational institutions to support the issuance of student visas.
Updated: November 10, 2025