Oliver Donaghy
British Army lieutenant colonel and Royal Engineers officer; commanding officer of 5 Information Operations Task Force (now 5 Information Warfare Battalion) in the Land Special Operations Force, formerly 77th Brigade
| Oliver Donaghy
| |
|---|---|
| Image |  Oliver Donaghy (Riga StratCom Dialogue 2026 speaker photo) |
| Born | June 1980 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | British Army officer (Corps of Royal Engineers); Commanding Officer, 5 Information Operations Task Force |
| Known for | Information operations, psychological operations and strategic communications |
| Education | Stonyhurst College; University of Bristol (MEng); Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; Cranfield University; King's College London (MA) |
Oliver Patrick Ramsey Donaghy (known as Oli Donaghy) is a British Army lieutenant colonel in the Corps of Royal Engineers.[1][2] In 2026 he was described as the Commanding Officer of 5 Information Operations Task Force within the British Army's Land Special Operations Force, which the conference biography called "formerly 77th Brigade" (see 77th Brigade).[3] The unit was later listed by the Army as 5 Information Warfare Battalion (5 IWB).[4]
Education
His LinkedIn profile lists his education as Stonyhurst College (1989–1998); a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering at the University of Bristol (1998–2002); and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (2003–2004).[5] It also lists the Intermediate Command and Staff College (Land) (2012–2013), studying "Strategy, International Relations, Operational Planning, Leadership"; a postgraduate certificate in "Information Operations, Behavioural Science, Target Audience Dynamics, Social Marketing" from Cranfield University (2012–2013); a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from King's College London (September 2019 – February 2021); and an MA in Strategic Communications from King's College London (2020–2021), "Pass with distinction".[5]
Military career
Commission and promotions
According to The London Gazette, Officer Cadet Oliver Patrick Ramsey Donaghy (service number 559560) was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into the Corps of Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant on 9 April 2004 with seniority from 13 October 2000, and as a lieutenant the same day with seniority from 13 October 2002.[1] He was promoted captain on 9 October 2006,[6] major on 31 July 2012,[7] and lieutenant colonel on 30 June 2022.[2]
His LinkedIn profile gives his first post as "Junior Officer" from December 2004 to December 2009, with "multiple deployments"; the Gazette dates his commission to April 2004.[5][1]
Psychological operations and information operations
The Riga StratCom Dialogue biography says that Donaghy "started his strategic communications career in a psychological operations role in 2009".[3] His LinkedIn profile describes the post, from December 2009 to 2013, as "Information Operations and Behaviour Change, Strategies and Interventions", and says: "Led a specialist military team delivering communication and applied behavioural science in support of operations. Deployed twice to Afghanistan working with national and international agencies. Taught Target Audience Analysis and influence/strategic communication courses to UK and foreign military audiences. Extended in post and promoted early in this role."[5] Neither source names the unit. The profile also lists a postgraduate certificate in information operations and behavioural science from Cranfield University and the Intermediate Command and Staff College (Land), both in 2012–2013.[5]
Joint Force Headquarters
The Riga biography says he "led information operations planning in the UK's Joint Force Headquarters" (see Joint Force Headquarters).[3] His LinkedIn profile lists the post of "Strategic Communications and Operational Planner" at the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) from 2013 to January 2015, and says: "Designed civ/mil resilience and contingency plans for UK interests in high-risk countries. Various deployments to crisis areas."[5]
Explosive ordnance disposal squadron
According to his LinkedIn profile, from May 2015 to June 2017 he commanded a "160-strong" explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) squadron of the British Army and "deployed with my team to counter IS activity in Iraq Dec 16-Jun 17". The profile does not name the squadron.[5]
Defence Academy and King's College London
His LinkedIn profile lists him as an instructor at the Defence Academy from September 2018 to August 2020, "educating, training and motivating British Army Majors in post-graduate level professional military education. Strategy, leadership, strategic communication and operational planning."[5] It then lists him, under the UK Ministry of Defence, as a student on the MA in Strategic Communications at King's College London from September 2020 to October 2021, stating that he was "Selected for the CGS fellowship programme to study towards a Master's degree in strategic communication. Graduated with a distinction." (CGS being the Chief of the General Staff).[5] It also lists a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from King's College London (September 2019 – February 2021).[5] The Riga biography says he "has a master's degree in strategic communication from King's College London".[3]
Army Headquarters, 77th Brigade and Ministry of Defence
The Riga biography says he "project managed the 77th Brigade capability in the Army Headquarters" (see 77th Brigade and Army Headquarters), and that after promotion to lieutenant colonel he "worked in the Army Headquarters on communication plans for the British Army and from 2023-25 was responsible for strategic communications plans in support of Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic area in the Ministry of Defence" (see Ministry of Defence).[3] His LinkedIn profile lists him as "Leader in Strategic Communication" at the UK Ministry of Defence, full-time, from October 2021 to the present, describing the role as "Strategic Communication Planning for the Ministry of Defence"; its headline describes him as "Leader in Strategic Communication at British Army".[5]
The biography also says he has "deployed experience from Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Eastern Europe".[3]
5 Information Operations Task Force
By June 2026 Donaghy was Commanding Officer of 5 Information Operations Task Force (5 IOTF).[3] The British Army described 5 IOTF as "the highly deployable force elements of 77th Brigade, trained in the delivery of tactical information activities", using "Planning and Liaison Elements and Tactical PsyOps teams" to conduct "partnered operations" and deliver "tactical PsyOps activity".[8] The 77th Brigade was resubordinated to the Land Special Operations Force on 14 April 2026, and 5 IOTF was listed among LSOF's units as of 1 May 2026.[9] By September 2026 the Army referred to the unit as "5 IWB", one of the two Information Warfare Battalions with 101 Information Warfare Battalion.[4]
Speaking
Donaghy was a speaker at the 2026 Riga StratCom Dialogue, held in Riga on 3–4 June 2026 and organised by the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.[3] He spoke on the main-stage session "The Cognitive Frontline: Offensive Influence Operations and Targeting" on 3 June, with Colonel Brent Hamilton of U.S. European Command, Jay Janzen of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and Kateryna Stepanenko of the Institute for the Study of War, moderated by Guna Šnore of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence.[10] The programme described the session's theme as follows: "NATO and allies are moving from reactive messaging to offensive influence operations that shape adversary decisions, constrain choices, and force reactions. Precision targeting of political, military, and societal audiences is synchronized with broader actions, turning perception into a tool of strategic effect."[10]
Other activities
The Royal Engineer Yacht Club names "Lt Col Oliver Donaghy" as the first contact for serving soldiers wishing to join the afterguard of Exercise Atlantic Quest, a combined sailing and mountaineering expedition to South Georgia in 2023–24 run with the Royal Engineer Mountaineering and Exploration Club.[11]
Companies House
| Company | Number | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 St. Ann's Park Road Limited | 02819430 | Director | 2 July 2013 | 23 May 2024 |
Companies House lists an Oliver Donaghy, born June 1980, as a director of 7 St. Ann's Park Road Limited, a residents' property management company with its registered office at 7 St. Ann's Park Road, London SW18 2RW, from 2 July 2013 to 23 May 2024. His correspondence address was given as 7b, St. Ann's Park Road, London SW18 2RW.[12][13] The appointment filing of 10 July 2013 gives his occupation as "Army Officer".[14]
See also
- 5 Information Warfare Battalion
- Information Warfare Battalion
- Land Special Operations Force
- 77th Brigade
- NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The London Gazette, Supplement 57302, p. 6765, 1 June 2004, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The London Gazette, Supplement 63748, p. 12631, 5 July 2022, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Riga StratCom Dialogue, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Donaghy rigastratcomdialogue.org, speaker page for the 3–4 June 2026 conference, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Army Policy and Secretariat, Land Special Operations Force organisation, nomenclature and formation insignia Freedom of Information response Army/PolSec/FOI2026/17115, 16 September 2026, via WhatDoTheyKnow, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Oliver Donaghy, Oliver D. – Leader in Strategic Communication at British Army LinkedIn, profile, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 58191, p. 17823, 27 December 2006, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement 60224, p. 14682, 31 July 2012, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ British Army, 77th Brigade Groups army.mod.uk, archived 22 February 2026 by the Wayback Machine, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Army Policy and Secretariat, LSOF and former 77 Brigade Freedom of Information response ArmySec/FOI2026/10971, 23 June 2026, via WhatDoTheyKnow, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Riga StratCom Dialogue, Breakout Session: The Cognitive Frontline: Offensive Influence Operations and Targeting (Main Stage) rigastratcomdialogue.org, programme, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Royal Engineer Yacht Club, Ex ATLANTIC QUEST sappersailing.org, accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Oliver DONAGHY: appointments accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, 7 ST. ANN'S PARK ROAD LIMITED (02819430) accessed 2 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, 7 ST. ANN'S PARK ROAD LIMITED: filing history, form AP01, appointment of Mr Oliver Donaghy as a director, filed 10 July 2013, accessed 2 November 2026.