David Fields Email & Phone Number

Providing research and analysis of Russian armed forces and defence industry.

Yeovil

Developed relationships across a broad range of stakeholders within the community to achieve a record amount of income from community fundraising and corporate partnerships to help fund Mind in Somerset mental health services across the region. Established a coherent and effective training strategy and product in order to deliver training to organisations to tackle the crisis of mental health in the work place.

London, United Kingdom

Russia policy advisor in the Ministry of Defence contributing to the development and implementation of UK's Strategy for Russia. Part of a small team which developed the UK Ministry of Defence's strategic approach towards Russia.

British Embassy, Moscow

First Sea Lord’s representative in Russia providing policy and military advice in support of FCO and MoD policy objectives for the Russian Federation. Chief of Defence Staff’s representative for defence issues in Turkmenistan• Supported HM Ambassador during the Ukraine crisis, providing political-military advice and influencing UK policy decision making towards Russia. • Established innovative mechanism for better coordination of actions and operations at sea between Royal Naval and Russian Naval units.• Organised English Language training for Turkmen military personnel in UK. • Headed the British Embassy office in Sochi during the Winter Olympics 2014, managing Royal and Ministerial visits and daily liaison with Team GB on security issues. Developed crisis response management plan in close cooperation with international partners and the British Olympic Association.

United Kingdom

Advised First Sea Lord (1SL) on operational and defence engagement issues for the Royal Navy and MoD • Organised regular briefings to 1SL on all operational issues involving the Ministry of Defence with specific reference to the Royal Navy, which influenced his advice to the Chief of Defence Staff. • Arranged 1SL’s international visit programme to meet Royal Navy and MOD Defence policy objectives. • Drafted reports for 1SL on his visits to Qatar, Algeria, Canada, Chile, Netherlands, Brussels, India, Japan and South Korea. Reports targeted at Ministers, senior MoD/FCO officials and military personnel to influence maritime relations with respective countries and the UK’s defence and security policy towards them.

United Kingdom

NATO and Europe Policy Directorate, Non-resident Defence Attaché for Portugal and Cape VerdeAccountable to the Secretary of State for UK Maritime Policy within NATO and the European Union. Chief of Defence Staff’s representative for defence issues in Portugal and Cape Verde.• Assisted in developing UK policy for NATO and EU maritime issues, especially counter-piracy off Somalia.• Identified Maritime Security (MS) activity across NATO and the EU, especially in the field of surveillance systems. Produced a paper demonstrating UK’s under-investment in MS in international fora. Liaised with the Cabinet Office (CO) to ensure inclusion of Maritime Security with the National Security Strategy and worked as part of the CO team to establish a new cross-agency Maritime Coordination Centre, Northwood. • Initiated and negotiated, together with the EU counter narcotic authorities in Lisbon, a Memorandum of Understanding with Cape Verde to enable Cape Verdean Law Enforcement personnel to operate from Royal Naval units in counter-narcotic operations off the West coast of Africa. Organised a RN ship visit to Cape Verde to exercise with the Cape Verdean authorities and to sign the MoU.

As Commanding Officer, I managed a £350 million, multi-purpose frigate, manned by 200 personnel requiring a thorough understanding of UK’s defence and security objectives as well as the conduct of military operations, logistics, finance and engineering. I was responsible for the safety, welfare, career development and performance of all personnel in all conditions of peace and war.• Deployed to the Middle and Far East for seven months, supporting RN and broader UK defence and security Policy objectives through, for example; a demanding multi-lateral exercise off the Malay peninsula with Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand; counter-terrorism operations in the Middle East; and port visits to, amongst others, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The last four of these were also visits that supported the UK Defence Industry through high profile industry events both at sea and in harbour. • Raised the profile of RN and MoD through frequent media exposure and interaction with politicians, senior business executives and non-military organisations, including non-governmental organisations.• Achieved a strong assessment against the most exacting training standards required of the Royal Navy during an 8 week training period and conducted several trials for state of the art equipment.

Bahrain

Organisation directing UK maritime operations in the Middle East.• Dealt with a constantly changing operational environment especially regarding Iraq and Iran, as well as counter-terrorism and counter narcotic operations within the region. Assisted leading the initial direction of UK’s maritime response to the Indonesian tsunami disaster on 26 Dec 04, developing contingency plans with UK authorities through the deployment of HMS CHATHAM to support the international relief effort off Sri Lanka.

2002 – 2004 Directorate of Operations, Ministry of Defence during the Iraq war 2001 – 2002 Joint Staff College and Master’s Degree in Defence Studies1999 – 2001 Executive Officer (Second in Command) of Her Majesty’s Ship SUTHERLAND 1997 – 1999 Assistant Naval Attaché, Moscow and Assistant Defence Attaché Georgia, Azerbaijan, ArmeniaActed on all Navy to Navy issues with Russia, which included the development and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, the first of its kind by any Nation, between the Royal Navy and the Russian Federation Navy, 1986 Household Liaison Officer, HMY BRITANNIA. Conducted State Visits to China and Hong Kong (HM the Queen), and visits to the Azores (HRH Prince Andrew) and the Middle East (HRH Prince of Wales and the late Princess of Wales)

Ma, Defence Studies

Education record