Providing independent and voluntary support and advice to vulnerable young persons in the care system on behalf of Somerset County Council through Route 1 Advocacy.

A dynamic and highly experienced Air Traffic Management Manager and Operator with proven experience of leading large teams of combined military staff and commercial engineering specialists. Well-honed military leadership skills underpin a background in aviation and maritime aviation management, consistently meeting military operational and administrative timelines throughout my previous career and now employed on multi-million pound Defence projects with RINA Consulting Defence Ltd. I offer valuable experience in safety management systems (aviation and maritime), contingency planning, risk management (particularly risk to life) and the positive introduction and management of change. With a history of practical operational ATC experience with the Royal Navy, from front line combat operations to being a key play within headquarters planning staff and combined with high profile experience in Defence procurement activities, I can bring a wealth of experience, including Lead AUDITOR qualified in BSI ISO9001:2015, in support of Air Traffic Management and Maritime aviation projects.

Responsible for Air Traffic Management, Aerodrome Rescue and Aeronautical Information at the Royal Navy's largest airfield in the UK providing a service to 10 Naval Air Squadrons, visiting aircrew and en-route air traffic.

Working as part of a small project management team within the headquarters of the Royal Air Force (although working independently at a major military airfield in Somerset and MOD Abbey Wood), I am responsible for providing air traffic control subject matter expertise to a multi-billion pound and very high profile defence air traffic management project. Specific responsibilities include milestone and risk management along with identifying and documenting Benefits Realisation. Current priorities include extensive interaction with stakeholders and assisting in the identification of trade space as the project matures towards main gate and ultimately Call for Final Tender. I have recently identified a minor saving of £1200 per month in personnel location costs and with a forward leaning focus, I am seeking to make further savings across the Project.

Working within the Operational Support Group for Commander UK Amphibious Forces as a planning officer and Info Ops subject matter expert.

This important role enabled me to lead the provision of Human Factors continuation training within the Air Department at RNAS Yeovilton during a key time of change to threat and error management within Defence Aviation. Lecturing to groups of military personnel, I facilitated, by means of case study, focused discussions on matters relating to human performance and the resultant effect on safety and efficiency.These discussions then allowed me to provide a deeper education of the available Safety Management Systems throughout the Royal Navy. This included the identification of quality assurance processes currently used and the safety, security and risk management benefits attributable to their correct employment.My role as a Defence Aviation Human Factors Facilitator made me an ideal Guest Lecturer to the Royal Navy Flight Safety Course at the RN Flight Safety Centre, where I provided a lecture tailored to 'Human Factors within Air Traffic Control' to a class of 40 personnel from across all arms of Defence (RN, Army, RAF, RFA).

As a key Staff Officer within the Aviation arm of Navy Command Headquarters, I had specific responsibility for providing aviation safety manpower to support major maritime exercises across the globe. In particular this involved ensuring the safety of fast jet aircraft conducting air attacks on warships during these exercises, keeping helicopters clear of attack sectors and ensuring strict weapons engagement policies were maintained by all units taking part.Additionally, I played a key role in providing an air traffic control service to aircraft providing target opportunities to warships conducting live weapon firing (surface to air missiles and heavy calibre machine guns). This required me to stay current in the required flight profiles of aircraft to a variety of Naval vessels that would be towing a target on a 5 mile steel wire at a height of 25ft above the sea (Low Level Height Keeping Target), and guiding the aircraft by radar to pass within 500 yards of the warship to ensure a successful missile engagement. I also coordinated and conducted the training of other controllers to provide the same level of control and maintained a pool of controllers capable of joining a ship at short notice to conduct these activities.As an ATM specialist, I was also called upon to provide research papers for my higher chain of command on wider ATC issues including providing opinon to aid informing the ongoing Maritime ATM safety studies.

Plans and Policy team member with specific responsibility for Information Operations planning (A5) and execution (A3) on behalf of the NATO Air Component Command HQ at Ramstein. DV security cleared and member of the Air Operations Planning Group and NATO Reaction Force.

Responsible for all aspects of air traffic control on board during my tour of duty. This included awarding controlling endorsements to new controllers and monitoring the ATC standards and practices throughout. Sea time during my period onboard included a major deployment to the West Indies conducting counter drugs patrols where I was responsible for the controlling of helicopters engaged in surveillance and interdiction of suspicious surface and air contacts. I was also the Deputy Media Officer responsible for the preparation of media releases and for the coordination of media events onboard such as press conferences. Whilst OCEAN was in a major refit, I was responsible for the habitation refit programme, including the modification and refitting of the Embarked Military Force accommodation. On completion of the refit, I was the 'Return to Sea Date' officer and coordinated events leading up to the point at which the ship returned to sea for trials. During this period of time I completed the Amphibious Warfare Operations Planning Course at HMS COLLINGWOOD, the Air Battle Staff Course at the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Cranwell and the Joint Fires Course at the Royal School of Artillery at Lark Hill Camp. These course enable me to contribute to the Operations Planning Staff for major operations and exercises in the Maritime, Air and Land environments. As the lead air traffic controller, this culminated in an extensive sea training package under the auspices of Flag Officer Sea training over a period in excess of 8 weeks when the ship and her systems and personnel were tested as part of readiness for operations. This included an exercise in Non Combatant Evacuation operations for which my role as Media Officer was also tested, finally deploying to the Eatern Mediterranean for a major NATO Amphibious Warfare Exercise.

As the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Bobsleigh Discipline Manager my key role was to recruit new team members and offer opportunities for them to develop in this sport which is commonly known as Formula 1 on ice. I inherited a team which was very much in a state of flux, with or 3 very experienced and capable bobsleighers (GB Team Members), but holding little confidence in the eyes of the Royal Navy Winter Sport Association due to a lack of results. This was mainly due to poor strength in depth as a result of a lack of volunteers making the team ineligible year on year to compete fully at the annual Inter-Service Championships. With the aid of a new Assistant Manager, I initially concentrated on rebuilding the team with new blood to complement the more experienced team members and also focussed my efforts on generating sponsorship opportunites. Funding for the team was partially based on sports grants through the various military sports avenues, leaving a substantial amount of money needing to be sourced through sponsorship; annual expenditure to provide a Squad of 18 athletes was in the region of £25k, boosted further by personal contributions from the athletes for accommodation and travel. Having gained support from Thales UK and Serco along with a number of smaller sponsors, new equipment and clothing gave the team the look of a professional outfit and soon had the Army and the RAF on their toes. With this in place, we progressed rapidly to a second place position in our first Inter-Service Championships, to then winning the trophy outright the following year - the first time the RN had won the competition for some 25 years. Two more successes in subsequent years and a sea-going commitment saw the right time to retire from the sport after what I would deem as a very successful period as the Team Manager.

Secondary posts included Local Examining Officer responsible to Navy Command for maintaining Air Traffic Control Standards and practices. During this period I was also Officer in Charge of Royal Naval Air Station Merryfield.

Responsible for a team of mobile phone engineers around the United Kingdom from Aberdeen to Cornwall who would respond to mobile phones (including hand held) not working - repair or replace. Accountable directly to the Service Director I had a team of 6 telephone operators working directly for me who would manage the allocation of Servicing jobs. Delivery and dispatch was facilitated by a team of motorcycle couriers.Prior to this post, I had originally joined the organisation as a workshop technician repairing mobile telephone devices at electronic compnent level, receiving training from NEC UK in order to become an accredited/authorised repair workshop for NEC. I rapidly achieved promotion to Workshop Supervisor managing a staff of 2 technicians and reporting to the Servicing Director. Responsibilities included meeting turn-round deadlines of 24 hours where possible, ordering repair stock and customer liaison where a strong customer focus was paramount. Customer base for the organisation included large banking organisations (Midland Bank) and many celebrities in a sector which was very much embryonic.

I joined as an Air Engineering Mechanic and was promoted to Officer on the Upper Yardman Scheme in Jan 87. Left RN for short time Jan 89-Nov 91. Rejoined as AEM (!), transferred to Aircraft Controller in 92, promoted Leading Hand Jul 93, promoted Petty Officer Jul 95, promoted Sub Lieutenant (SD)(AV)(ATC) Sep 97, promoted Lieutenant Commander Apr 07. Served in the following Naval Air Squadrons:706, 810, 824, 825 and 815 Sqn.Served in the following ships:RFA Engadine, MV Atlantic Causeway, RFA Olwen, RFA Olmeda, HMS HECATE, HMS FIFE, HMS BEAVER, HMS BIRMINGHAM and HMS MARLBOROUGH (last 2 as Leading Aircraft Controller).