John Howard James Gower (28 July 1960 - 12 February 2024), CB OBE, was a former British Royal Navy commander.

Barred early on from becoming a fighter pilot due to poor eyesight, John was subsequently persuaded to join the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 1978.

[10] Having commanded nuclear-armed submarines, Gower was attentive to these weapons systems' role in the United Kingdom, as well as in NATO's strategic defenses.

The report delivers a detailed analysis of various nuclear warhead delivery platforms from large aircraft and submarines to mobile ballistic missile launchers.

[10]: 58 After retiring from his active role in the Royal Navy, John Gower published numerous articles in strategic outlets that address nuclear deterrence and existential risk mitigation.

He published with the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists,[11] BASIC,[12] the Council on Strategic Risks,[13] the Nautilus Institute,[14] and the Carnegie Endowment.

[15] He gave public lectures, such as a Fireside Chat with the Centre for Effective Altruism,[16] and a participated in panel discussions, including on nuclear risk.

John Gower's lifetime contributions and achievements have been acknowledged by the European Leadership Network,[26] the Australian Naval Institute,[1] the Council on Strategic Risks,[27] as well as the Times.