John graduated from Aberdeen University in 1990 with an Honours degree in Electronic Engineering. He then joined the MOD with the EWAD (Electronic Warfare and Avionics Division). There he applied his skills as a Design Engineer in the design and development of avionics units for in-service use. In 1995 he was promoted to the role of Equipment Design Project Manager. Here he was responsible for the delivery of all EWAD Equipment Design tasks within timescale and budget together with the provision of technical expertise and guidance for the design, development and testing of special signals equipment and military avionics. He gained design experience with various aircraft types including Nimrod R1 and MR2, Chinook Mk2/2a, Islander, and even the Lancaster!In 1999 John left EWAD for fresh challenges at Abbeywood and joined the Merlin IPT as programme manager on the Merlin HM Mk1. There he was responsible for monitoring prime contract work schedules against programme, co-ordinating the project elements of the aircraft introduction to service including the procurement of the later production models agreeing concessions and aircraft delivery. In 2002 John joined the Air Land Technology Group as ADRP1 (Airworthiness, Design Requirements and Procedures) with responsibility for the airworthiness policy section. Here he oversaw the introduction of the GARP process and the Airworthiness Competence Set to the MOD. With the creation of the Air Systems Group, John was promoted to be the AD of Air Systems with responsibilities for the Design and Modification Support Division. Here he was responsible for the formulation of military airworthiness policy and standards for the UK. John was then promoted to SCS and asked to take on the challenge as Head of the Air Systems Group in readiness for the formation of the Military Aviation Authority. Following the stand-up of the MAA in April 2010, John was selected for the post of Head of Technical Regulation and had the responsibility for the development, maintenance and promulgation of the MoD’s through-life Airworthiness Regulations, management of the Military Aircraft Register, regulation coherence and maintaining, developing and promulgating converged tri-Service aviation engineering regulations.Currently John is heading up the Analysis and Plans Group within the MAA. Here he has responsibility for undertaking higher level risk performance analysis across the whole military air environment to create a single Air Safety risk picture; this is then utilized to prioritize the delivery of regulatory outcomes and interventions.
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