Darren Lawrence
As well as being a founder and Director of Artifice Ltd, Darren is also a Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Science in the School of Defence & Security at Cranfield University, based within the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
Darren has worked in the field of psychological warfare since 2002. He developed and ran Cranfield’s postgraduate programme in Information Operations (Info Ops). Darren is the Head of the Information Operations Group, Course Director for the MSc in Cyber Operations, and Director of the National Cyber Deception Laboratory (see recent coverage of the lab in The Times). Prior to taking up his post at Cranfield University he was a Senior Applied Psychologist and Project Manager within QinetiQ (formerly DERA) specialising in Psychological and Information Operations.
Darren on LinkedInSimon Henderson
Simon is our Associate Technical Director and a co-founder of Artifice. Before this he spent 24 years in the MOD and its commercial spin-off, QinetiQ, researching the psychological bases of sensemaking, decision-making, teamwork, influence and deception, in both military and civilian organisations. This was followed by six years researching and teaching influence and deception at Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
Simon has spent over 15 years focusing on the study and application of deception, working on topics including: illusory presence; camouflage, concealment and decoys; design approaches for hiding in plain sight; inter-personal and inter-organisational deception; deception planning; counter-deception; the design and delivery of deception education; and deception and influence in cyberspace. Over the course of his career he has supported various UK and US military, government and law enforcement initiatives, has contributed to military deception doctrine, and has undertaken a wide range of deception consultancy and training.
Please visit Simon’s blog to see his latest thoughts in this fascinating field.
Rob Black
A member of the core Artifice team, Rob is also a Lecturer in Information Activities at the School of Defence and Security at Cranfield University, based within the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
Rob has worked in the field of Influence and Information Operations since 2003. At Cranfield University, he leads a series of modules on the UK MoD’s MSc in Cyber Operations, as well as supporting the UK Defence Cyber School in educating senior MoD Leaders of Warfare in the Information Age. His research interests are focused on looking at the nexus of Cyber, intelligence and warfighting, exploring concepts such as the legality of cyber operations today and the role of Influence and Deception in the Information Age, in support of the National Cyber Deception Laboratory. Prior to joining Cranfield, Rob worked for DSTL exploring building and developing Cyber Influence Capabilities, and was involved in operational planning and delivery in support of the UK government’s cyber operations. He also worked in the field of co-ordinating Human Science capability development across the UK’s 5EYES partners.
This is hands down the most organized class I have taken since being operational. It’s not just about deception but how to think and then how to convey ideas to colleagues.”
US Course 2019
One of, if not the best courses of instruction I have received in my 21-year career. Provides the best analysis and planning models for human factors I’ve observed.”
US Course 2019
Brilliant course and well presented. I feel that the elements presented to me will make me more effective in my role. I’d recommend it to the rest of my team.”
UK Course 2019
Exceptional course! Simply and smartly executed with direct application to multiple focus areas. This course will show you how brilliant and accessible influence and deception strategies can be applied operationally.”
US Course 2017
The course has provided me with a method to break down and clarify my thinking around operational problems of all kinds, not just influence and deception.”
UK Course 2018
An exceptionally well-delivered system that provided new insights, rigour and structure to established planning methods. Course materials were clear, concise and invaluable to continued development of newly acquired skills.”
UK Course 2018
The course was very beneficial, it helped me understand what aspects drive operational activity and it provided the specialist language to discuss deception operations.”
UK Course 2018
The Artifice 6 Block Model and other constructs for approaching influence and deception were fantastic, and will be useful throughout our work.”
US Course 2018