John Spencer joins the board of 4GD
Immersive close combat training technology specialists, 4GD, has officially welcomed John Spencer to its board in an advisory capacity.
Image courtesy 4GD
John Spencer (above) has been advising 4GD informally for several years but is now brought into the 4GD team to bolster their existing knowledge of the urban warfare space, especially in the US market.
Broadly considered one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare, he has served as an advisor to the top US four-star general and other senior leaders in the US Army as part of strategic research groups from the Pentagon to the United States Military Academy.
John W. Spencer is the chair of urban warfare studies at the Madison Policy Forum, codirector of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project Podcast. He served over 25 years in the Army as an infantry soldier having held ranks from private to sergeant and lieutenant to major.
John is a well-know commentator on the subject of urban warfare, regularly contributing to programmes on CNN, MSNBC, BBC and numerous news and media organisations. Since March 2022 he has contributed regularly on the developing Russo-Ukraine conflict.
A veteran owned and operated training technology company with the capability for optimising performance in elite units in the UK and US, 4GD is looking to build on its existing US portfolio and network, with its footprint in the US having grown since 2018 where its maiden SmartFacility was built in Albuquerque. Adapted around a complex existing structure, the facility enables on site urban and immersive mission training.
Commenting on his appointment to the 4GD board, John Spencer said: “I am delighted to join the 4GD business in an official capacity. I have confidence in what 4GD is trying to achieve and I believe its training facilities are best-in-class. 4GD has already made significant in-roads into improving the urban warfare training estate in the UK and I am excited about its continued expansion, especially into the United States.
Urban warfare training development is at a critical juncture and 4GD’s solutions can help to bring training practices into the 21st century. It is vital for military leaders worldwide to understand the extraordinary challenges of urban warfare and how best to train Armed Forces to deal with complex urban ecosystems. Warfare has migrated into cities. From Mosul to Mariupol, Aleppo to Marawi, the major military battles of the 21st century have taken place in densely populated urban areas and this looks set to continue.”
Welcoming John to the team, 4GD founder Rob Taylor added: “Having someone of John’s experience and background on the 4GD team will help to broaden our knowledge base and strengthen our position in the US market.
Alongside being a thought leader in urban warfare space, John is very well connected in US army circles and having him on board reflects 4GD’s ambition to secure further contracts in the US market.”
