Background:

I started my career as an avionics technician in the RAF, and also spent 3 years within the electronic warfare operations field, prior to commissioning in 1995. After a 2 year stint in aircrew training, I transferred to the Intelligence Branch. The flavour of my career in Intelligence was very much operations-focussed and over 12 years I deployed to the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and Horn of Africa theatres of operation – some of these several times! I was selected to be the first RAF sensor operator on the Predator MQ-1 and spent a very successful tour at Nellis AFB in Nevada. My final tour in the RAF was also the pinnacle; I was fortunate to be asked to develop and the Air Intelligence Operational Evaluation Squadron, breaking new ground for the RAF. I retired from the RAF in 2009 and after a short stint as an independent consultant, joined 3SDL in November of that year.

Specialist Skills:

Although I have a breadth of skills, my primary areas of expertise are in ISTAR operations and capability development, Test and Evaluation, and UAV/UAS operations. I am a qualified and experienced Air Warfare Centre Trials Management Officer, and have lead several trials in key capabilities such as RAPTOR, Litening III and more recently, the Cortez Base ISTAR / Force protection systems. I completed my Predator tour with mission and training school Instructor qualifications, and was also a Standards Evaluator/Flight Examiner. I am adaptable, energetic and passionate about what I do, and improving the capabilities supporting the soldiers, sailors or airmen on the front line is what gets me up in the morning!

Personal:

I’m married with two teenage children, and have a range of hobbies that fill up my time away from work! We have recently purchased a narrow boat as we have enjoyed the canals of England and its industrial heritage for over 20 years now. I have a Koi pond, but also enjoy fishing when I can, and have also been known to play the odd round of golf when away on trips. We are a musical family and I play the guitar (musically) and drums (passionately)!