Rear Admiral Jim Higham is the Director Ships Support and Chief Naval Engineering Officer, responsible for the through-life, worldwide support of the Surface Fleet (excluding LPDs) and is the Chief Naval Engineering Officer.

His operational experience has included deployments in Her Majesty’s Ships to Africa, the Middle East, South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. In the land environment he managed Force Protection strategy in Iraq and NATO’s 4* engagement with the Afghan Government in Kabul. His work in Afghanistan was recognised with the award of an OBE on the 2013 operational list.

In broader Defence Management and leadership roles, he had the privilege of Commanding Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth and was the Military Assistant to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces during a change of Government and Strategic Defence Review.

At DE&S he has led the Warship Support team and been involved in a variety of challenging acquisition programmes: the Anglo-French & Italian Sea Viper Weapon System; the Type 45 Combat System design and build; renegotiation of the QEC contract; and the Type 26 project VECTOR review. Other capability and acquisition experience includes leading numerous Joint urgent projects to deliver equipment for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the international and pan-agency efforts to counter the IED threat.

Married to Helen, he has 2 children and a VW campervan. A keen sportsman, his involvement is now limited to middle-aged road cycling and his role as President of RN Basketball.

Simon joined Leonardo Helicopters as an under-graduate in 1988.

Over the 32 years he has spent in the business he has undertaken numerous executive roles within the company as diverse as HR, Procurement, Business Strategy, Commercial and Senior Vice President UK Government Business, before assuming his current role as Senior Vice President UK Customer Support and Training, with responsibility for global business delivery. In this role he is responsible for 32 customers and 500 aircraft with an annual turnover of approximately £500M.

Simon is married and has two children. He enjoys skiing, golf and football.

Des is Senior Vice President of Customer Support and Service Solutions (CS3 UK) for Leonardo Electronics UK. Des has 24 years of experience in the defence industry. Most recently he has held the roles in Leonardo of Head of Procurement and Vice President of Airborne AESA Radar, having gained strong experience in programme management including major capability development programmes such as the Gripen AESA radar, following earlier roles in Manufacturing and Lasers Project Management.

Des has a particular interest in Lifecycle Management, including effective deployment of skilled resource at all stages of the product lifecycle, best practice in engagement with the supply chain and development of digital capability towards future challenges.

Des has a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering with Financial Management from Strathclyde University.

Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd joined the RAF in September 1991, having gained a First-Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manchester University. Following specialist Engineer Officer training he worked on Hercules C-130s and the Tornado GR1/4 aircraft at RAF Brüggen, TTTE RAF Cottesmore and 14 Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, which included overseas exercises and several detachments to the Gulf. A role developing recruitment, training and employment policy for RAF Engineer Officers preceded Advanced Command and Staff College, and then a posting to HQ Air Command as SO1 Planning Round (PR), where he developed and co-ordinated the £16bn Air Domain PR bid. In August 2009, he took up the post of Officer Commanding Engineering and Logistics Wing at RAF Marham, where as the Station’s Chief Engineer, he was responsible for the airworthiness of the Unit’s 4 operational squadrons of Tornado aircraft. He oversaw RAF Marham’s first deployment to Afghanistan, and was the engineering lead for the preparation, generation and deployment of the GR4 contribution to operations under OP ELLAMY.

In August 2011, he was posted to the Ministry of Defence where he provided MoD senior management and Ministers with specialist advice on air, space and cyber issues, as well as leading on the coordination of the Defence equipment procurement and support plans. Promoted to Group Captain in September 2012, he took up the post of Chief Engineer and Type Airworthiness Authority within the Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Project Team at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). In that role he supported Reaper on Op HERRICK and Op SHADER, brought Watchkeeper and Scan Eagle into Service with the British Army and Royal Navy respectively and authorised the flight-testing of Taranis, a UCAS demonstration vehicle and the high-altitude Zephyr UAS.

In August 2016, he was promoted to Air Commodore and took up the post of Head Typhoon Delivery Team in DE&S, where he was responsible for the capability development and in-Service support of the Typhoon and the Battle of Britain aircraft. As well as supporting Typhoon operations on Op SHADER, he successfully led the major international upgrade programme to integrate three new weapon types and two major mission system upgrades on Typhoon through Project CENTURION. This £487M programme was delivered into operational service two years ahead of schedule and £62M under budget, gaining the BAE Systems Chairman's Gold Award and Minister for Defence Procurement's Acquisition Excellence Awards overall winner in 2019. In January 2021, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal and took up his current role as the Chief of Staff for Support and the Chief Engineer of the RAF, where he is responsible for the policy, strategy and capability development for all aspects of support in the RAF.

During his time in the RAF, Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd has gained a MSc from the University of Oxford in Major Programme Management, a Master’s Degree in Defence Administration from Cranfield University and an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London. Chartered Engineer, he is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, where he actively promotes aerospace engineering across universities, industry and government. Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd is married with 2 children, his hobbies include gardening, walking and skiing. He was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020.

Before entering politics, Jeremy worked in corporate finance for 25 years latterly as Managing Director of Deutsche Bank.

In 2008 to 2009, he served on secondment as senior corporate finance adviser to HM Treasury, assisting them on the UK’s response to the financial crisis.

In July 2018, Jeremy accepted a role in the Government as a member of the Whips’ Office and was promoted to serve as a senior Whip (as “Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Household”) in July 2019.

In December 2019, Jeremy became Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office with responsibilities for the Government Commercial Function and other cross-government programmes.

Jeremy Quin was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Defence Procurement) at the Ministry of Defence on 13 February 2020. As Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Jeremy is responsible for the Defence Equipment Plan; relations with the defence industry; defence exports; defence science and technology; and defence estates and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement is responsible for the Defence Equipment Plan, relations with defence industry and exports, science and technology.

Responsibilities include:
• delivery of the Equipment Plan
• the Nuclear Enterprise
• Defence Equipment and Support reform
• defence exports
• innovation
• defence science and technology including the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• information computer technology
• the Single Source Regulations Office
• estates and investment
• environment and sustainability

Mike joined the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1983 as a Mechanical Technician Apprentice at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich. Moving to the Admiralty Research Establishment Portland in 1985 to complete his apprenticeship, he began a long association with the Royal Navy Submarine Service, procuring and supporting a range of equipment and platforms across the procurement lifecycle.

The early phase of Mike's career was spent in project teams responsible for the procurement, installation and in-service support of submarine command and control Systems on nuclear and diesel platforms.

Moving to Abbey Wood in 1996, Mike has had a variety of positions including supporting Trafalgar Class submarine refits, ASTUTE Class transition into service and the disposal of the UK's decommissioned nuclear submarines.

In 2012 Mike was appointed as the MoD Dreadnought Programme Manager and, in 2018, he joined the In-Service Submarine Team responsible for the maintenance of the UK's In- Service submarine flotilla. In November 2020 Mike was appointed as the Head of the Platform Equipment Delivery Team in the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA). A newly formed team to provide in-service support to submarine mechanical, hydraulic, steam and electrical systems where his experience will further help improve submarine availability through Project Resolution. Mike is a Fellow of both the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and the Association for Project Management and a Chartered Project Professional.

Major General Simon Hamilton commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1995. Throughout his career, he gained leadership, command and staff experience at all levels both in the Ministry of Defence in London, and on operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. As Brigadier Hamilton, he commanded 101 Logistic Brigade, before further honing capability and acquisition skills as the Army’s Head Equipment in Army Headquarters, and subsequently as Head Vehicle Support in the Defence Equipment & Support, Abbey Wood.

Having developed this range of competencies, Major General Hamilton was appointed as the British Army's Director of Support and as a member of the Army Board in April 2019. In his Director of Support role he is accountable for three core outputs; firstly, acquire the equipment necessary to modernise the British Army; secondly, manage the delivery of 9 ongoing capital equipment acquisitions, serving as the Senior Responsible Owner for fusing the Armoured Cavalry and Armoured Infantry programmes into operational capabilities; and finally, the optimisation of all in-service equipment and logistic aspects, including responsibility for all land and army aviation, commodities, repairables and inventory stock purchases. Of note is Major General Hamilton’s responsibility for the maintenance of the British Army’s fleets at the appropriate and necessary levels of contemporary effectiveness and readiness.

Roger initially joined DE&S as the Project Lead for Inventory Management Transition, in January of 2013, before assuming the Directorship of the new Inventory Management Operating Centre (IMOC) in December of the same year, and took the reins of the LCS(T) programme which has now reached contract award. In Autumn 2015 Roger became the Director of Logistics Delivery responsible for the Operating Centre which now brings together the key parts of the materiel supply chain with the objective of continuing to meet the needs of our Armed Forces whilst delivering it more cost effectively.

He joined the organisation with a background in procurement and supply chain management gained in a wide range of public and private sector organisations. He has worked with IBM, ASDA, Coopers & Lybrand, Capgemini and DHL, most recently as procurement director for NHS Supply Chain where he led the establishment of a commercially focussed trading team supplying hospitals across England and held procurement responsibility for spend of £5 billion per annum.

Roger lives in Yorkshire with his wife Rebecca and has 4 daughters. In his spare time he enjoys cycling, sailing and model engineering.

Lieutenant General Chiarotti was commissioned December 21, 1985. Following graduation from The Basic School and Basic Motor Transport Officer Course, he was assigned to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 18, Okinawa, Japan. During this tour, he served as the Battalion Motor Transport Officer, S-4 Officer, and 2d Platoon Commander, Bravo Battery (Stinger Gunner). In May 1989, he was assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California and served as Operations Officer, Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, and Depot Motor Transport Officer. In June 1992, Captain Chiarotti was selected to attend the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California for duty with 7th Motor Transport Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group as Commander of both Alpha and Headquarters and Service Company. Additionally, he served as Operations Officer, Combat Service Support Detachment 17. Upon transferring to MEU Service Support Group (MSSG) 15, he was assigned as the Operations Officer and subsequently deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU (SOC)). He deployed in support of WestPac in 1995.

In 1996, he was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment (CSSD) 36, Iwakuni, Japan, for duties as Executive Officer. In June 1999, he was selected to attend the Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, Rhode Island. Following graduation in June 2000, Major Chiarotti was assigned to Marine Corps Forces, Europe, Stuttgart, Germany as the Southern Region Logistics Plans Officer. In August 2001, Major Chiarotti reported for duty as Plans Officer, Plans and Policy Division, Logistics and Security Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. European Command. Following the events of September 11, 2001, he served as Watch Officer, Crisis Action Team, European Theater Command and Control Center. Subsequently, he served as the Branch Chief, Logistics Support Operation, responsible for the planning and execution of logistics support operations in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from within the European area of responsibility.

In May 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Chiarotti was assigned to 2d Force Service Support Group. He deployed as the Officer-in-Charge, Transport Support Detachment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Camp Fox, Kuwait. Returning in November 2003, he assumed duties as Deputy, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3. In March 2004, he deployed in support of OPERATION SECURE TOMORROW as the Director for Logistics, Combined Joint Task Force, Haiti. Returning from Haiti in July 2004, he assumed command of MSSG-22 and was deployed in support of Revised Combined Arms Exercises 3 through 14, Camp Wilson, Twenty-nine Palms, California from September 2004 to March 2005. In May of 2005, MSSG-22 became part of 22d MEU (SOC). Lieutenant Colonel Chiarotti deployed MSSG-22 in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in support of the 22d MEU (SOC).

He was selected for and successfully completed a Fellowship at Smeal School of Business, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, and was subsequently transferred to Okinawa, Japan on 7 July 2007, where he assumed command of Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3d Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). Following this assignment, he was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 until his reassignment to United States Central Command as Chief of Staff, Logistics Directorate. In August of 2011, Brigadier General Chiarotti was assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa as Deputy Commander. Brigadier General Chiarotti was subsequently assigned as the Deputy, J-5 Plans and Strategy and finally the Director, J-5 Plans, Strategy and Programs for U.S. Africa Command until his assignment to II MEF as Commanding General, 2d Marine Logistics Group from June 2014 to June 2016.

In June 2016, Major General Chiarotti was assigned duties as Deputy Commander, United States Forces, Japan. June 2018, Lieutenant General Chiarotti was transferred to the Pentagon to assume the duties as Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics. The Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics acts on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in the management of designated matters regarding installations and logistics plans, policies, programs, processes and procedures, and capabilities in order to maximize Marine Corps readiness to conduct and sustain combat operations.

Lieutenant General Chiarotti holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (with oak cluster in lieu of second award), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (with Gold Star in lieu of second award), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak cluster in lieu of second award), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Lieutenant General Chiarotti was also awarded the French National Defense Medal (Silver Award), and the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun.

Air Commodore David Tozer joined the RAF in 1990 as a university cadetship officer; graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1994 with an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Frontline duties have included engineering and support roles with RAF Regt (Rapier), Tornado F3 and latterly Chinook Forces and most recently the role of Head of establishment at RAF Brize Norton has afforded him the privilege of commanding at every rank less air commodore – but he hopes there is still time to command again. These roles have taken Tozer on operations in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan and exercises across the globe.

Staff appointments have been equally varied including Engineering Authority and project leader in both the Defence Logistics Organisation and Defence Procurement Agency. Experience has been developed through tours as Military Assistant to Chief Executive Defence Medical Educational and Training Agency and Commander Joint Medical Command, Senior Air Staff Officer No. 2 Group, Programme Director for Programme Future Airport and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff A4 Capability and Programmes

He attended Advanced Command and Staff Course 12, graduating with an MA from Kings College London and earning the Ironmongers’ Prize for excellence and is currently participating in the Major Project Leaders Academy.

Promoted in 2019 to Air Commodore, Tozer is currently the RAF Support Transformation Sub-portfolio Director and Head of the Strategic Support Programme (SSP). In this role, he is responsible for 6 programmes with the objective to transform the effectiveness and efficiency of support activities. The Sub-portfolio is as exciting as it is challenging, it includes SSP, Digital Optimisation, Smart Working, Inventory Control and Engineering Capability.

He is married to Kathy, has 2 children, and owns a very energetic Golden Doodle dog. A keen but increasingly injured sportsman, DT has represented the RAF at volleyball, rugby and snowboarding. He is an international snowboard freestyle judge, British Snowboard Technical Delegate and a Trustee of the RAF Winter Sports Association. Other interests when time permits include road cycling, watching films and reading anything interesting.

Lieutenant General Rob Magowan joined the Royal Marines in 1989 after reading chemistry at Southampton University. His early command appointments included a tour of Northern Ireland. Returning from the US Marine Corps staff course, he was posted to HQ 3 UK Division, during which time he deployed to Afghanistan on the first International Security Assistance Force deployment. He returned to 42 Commando as Second in Command, deploying to Kuwait and Iraq for Operation Telic 1.

Subsequently, he worked in the Cabinet Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, with a focus on intelligence. He assumed command of the Royal Marines 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, deploying to Helmand province.

After Higher Command and Staff Course, as a Brigadier he was Chief of Staff to the National Contingent Commander in Kabul, Commodore Naval Personnel Strategy and then Commander Joint Forces Intelligence Group.

He became Commandant General Royal Marines and Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces in 2016. He also assumed command of the European Union Naval Force Somalia. His staff appointments as a Major General were Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) and Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability and Force Design).

He has been Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command since January 2020. He reassumed the position of Commandant General Royal Marines in April 2021, which he fulfils alongside his UK Strategic Command duties.

He is the Defence Buddhist Champion, chairs the Defence Mindfulness Steering Group and is President of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting. He is President of the Royal Marines Association and Royal Marines Charity, Royal Navy/Royal Marines Mountaineering Club, RN Netball Association and RN/RM Rifle Association. He is also President of the charity 65 Degrees North.

He lives in Hampshire with his wife, Charlotte, and two teenage daughters. He remains an active mountaineer. He enjoys reading European political history and is a keen amateur cook.

Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw was appointed as the first Chief of Defence Logistics and Support in October 2019, responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of a cross-cutting, pan-Defence strategy for Support, a c£14Bn/annum enterprise covering every facet of Engineering and Logistic Support.

In coming to this appointment, Lieutenant General Wardlaw draws on more than 29 years’ service in the Army and key appointments in NATO; he is an experienced senior leader on both military operations (Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland) and in major business change, with pivotal roles in the Army Redundancy Programme in 2010, the reorganization of the Army under the Army 2020 Programme in 2014, and as SRO leading the Army Basing Programme and Defence Estate Optimisation Programme in 2016.

He completed the Major Project Leadership Academy at Saïd Business School in 2018, Higher Command and Staff Course in 2010, the Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2002 and an MSc in Defence Technology in 2001. He has a BEng in Production Engineering from the University of Nottingham. He was awarded the QCVS in 2007 and 2009 following his tours of Iraq and Afghanistan and was appointed OBE in 2012.

Lieutenant General Wardlaw was appointed Colonel Commandant The Brigade of Gurkhas and Chair of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the leading charity for Gurkha veterans, in November 2020. He is a Member of the Institution of Royal Engineers and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. As a serving Colonel Commandant Royal Engineer, he is Chair of the Royal Engineers’ Widow’s Society, providing financial assistance to the families of deceased Sapper officers, and is a Trustee of the Royal Engineers’ Yacht Club.

David Matthews joined the Royal Navy in 1985. Training as a Submarine Weapon Engineer, he served in HMS REVENGE, then later HMS TALENT as Weapon Engineer Officer. A variety of shore appointments include Warfare Development, an MSC in the Design of Information Systems, Requirements Management, MoD Central Staff, Directing Staff at the Joint Services Staff College, Submarine Sea Training, culminating Professional Head for Submarine Weapon Engineering in Navy Command.

More recently, David has focused on Acquisition and Support, as Programme Manager then Team Leader for Submarine Combat Systems, leading the introduction to service of revolutionary commercial based Command, Control and Communication Systems, and with a stint with Information Systems and Services at Corsham, orchestrating rapid development and fielding of modern Joint Operational Information Systems.

Promoted to Cdre in 2018, he formed and led the Submarine Availability Improvement Programme successfully revitalising Support across multiple disciplines from engineering and logistics to personnel and training. As a result, he subsequently established a Platform Equipment Delivery Team to re-establish support for Submarine Marine Systems and develop advanced approaches in Asset Management and Data Integration for Equipment Reliability, learning from Industry best-practice. He is now expanding these approaches to give a longer-term sustained step change in Submarine Availability through Project Resolution.