Research Leader – Defence & Security, RAND Europe

Lucia Retter is a research leader at RAND Europe and co-directs RAND Europe's Centre for Defence Economics and Acquisition. Her research focuses on understanding the factors driving government strategy, policy, and decision-making at the nexus between security, influence and prosperity, including the benefits, trade-offs and risks associated with different capability development programmes.

Since joining RAND in 2013, Retter has led studies involving defence strategy, acquisition and capability, technology horizon scanning, defence and space industrial base and skills for the UK Ministry of Defence, the European Defence Agency, the European Commission, and other European governments. Recent work includes studies for the UK Ministry of Defence to help frame and inform its Climate Change and Sustainability strategic approach, studies for UK Government clients in support of the national and defence space strategies, a series of studies for the UK Government on the options for the future UK combat air sector out to 2040 and a large study for the European Commission on skills needed by the EU defence industry now and in the future.

Retter holds and M.A. cum laude in international relations and international economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where she specialised in economic policy, and a B.A. in modern languages from Clare College, University of Cambridge.