Tom Rowley
Clanfield ,Hampshire
Summary
Served 39 years in the Royal Navy, with a track record of success as a leader and manager of large and diverse teams, in both delivering training and developing organisational policies across a wide variety of projects and programmes. Have held a large variety of roles across numerous career fields including Operations, Training, Intelligence, Personnel, Capabilities and Acquisitions, and Defence Engagement. Mission and team orientated, with extensive military experience of working and negotiating with multinational organisations, government institutions, embassies, and industry in pursuit of positive organisational goals; all against a backdrop of complex environments that include risk to force and risk to mission threats.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work history
Training & Exercise Planner
Royal Navy
, Hampshire
05.2023 - Current
- Led Maritime Air planner for the delivery of sovereign maritime exercises within a NATO context for 2024. This includes the STEADFAST DEFENDER series, the largest NATO event in Europe for a generation.
- Delivered a £1 million project to train the UK’s Commando Force HQ for deployment on evacuation operations through a Live-Virtual construct.
- Planned the collective training to enable next iteration of Carrier Strike Group generation; exploring and enabling the possibilities of fusing its delivery with wider pan-NATO complex exercises to mutually achieve greater training value.
Liaison Officer, Naval Attaché
Royal Navy
Jeddah / Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
06.2022 - 05.2023
- At the higher rank of Commander acted as the Royal Navy Liaison Officer to the Royal Saudi Navy, operating from the British Consulate in Jeddah and the UK Embassy in Riyadh.
- Responsible for building critical partnerships and influence with Royal Saudi Navy counterparts and wider regional partners to help facilitate their training.
- Assisted in the planning and execution of the Saudi International Maritime Conference 2022, that was attended by numerous international Heads of Defence.
- Worked alongside FCDO colleagues to develop in country crisis event contingency plans.
- Worked with UK trade and industry partners to help advance UK interests and influence throughout the region.
- At the Ambassador’s request stepped in to act as the UK Naval Attaché to the Kingdom Saudi Arabia for 3 months.
- Planned and implemented the move of the RN liaison officer position from the Western Regional Fleet Headquarters in Jeddah into the main Naval HQ in Riyadh.
In-Service Capability Manager
Royal Navy
, Hampshire
06.2021 - 06.2022
- Managed on behalf of the Director of Force Generation, the in-service capability programmes to support naval surface to air missiles and Electronic Warfare decoys with an active portfolio responsibility totalling circa £1.8b.
- Provided evidence to suspend a failing acquisition stream and put forward a proposal to spirally develop the R&D whilst maintaining the current capability to achieve a more beneficial organisational outcome. Resulting in an overall save to the Navy of £60m.
- As the sole Air Warfare officer in the organisation deputised as required for my line manager who lacked the operator perspective and system expertise acted Managed the Squadron’s data records using multiple pieces of software/applications. This included medical, training and readiness assessments.
- Assisted in the development of a new industry standard methodology and software development for complex weapon stockpile management from the end user perspective, leading to MoD wide adoption and provided factual evidence to support greater investment.
Career Manager, Personnel
Royal Navy
, Hampshire
12.2019 - 06.2021
- Was the head of warfare ratings career management, and on a face-to-face basis provided individual career direction and advice to the navies most senior enlisted people, as the Warfare Warrant Officers career manager.
- Responsible for identifying in branch talent as the standing president of ratings promotion and extensions of service boards.
- Implemented manning policies during a period of technological transformation to the way peoples career structures and promotions prospects were managed across the Royal Navy.
- Deputising for the Commander for over a year as the head of all ratings career management across the Royal Navy leading a team managing almost 11,000 personnel in total.
Defence Intelligence Analyst
Royal Navy
London
06.2015 - 12.2019
- Lead above water warfare analyst in identifying potential niche developments in potential adversary capabilities and the head of small specialist team focussing on ISIS and Iranian military capability.
- Head UK representative at numerous related partner nations bilateral intelligence sharing meetings and conferences.
Air Warfare Instructor
Royal Navy
, Hampshire
05.2013 - 06.2015
- As Staff Warfare Officer Air Warfare was responsible for training Warfare officers, and ship’s teams in all aspects of Anti Air Warfare and Anti-Missile Defence.
- Presented with a Fleet commendation for implementing changes to the way in which Anti Air Warfare was taught and included for the first time Air Force, Army and NATO partners in maritime air warfare training.
- Implemented near real time reviews of performance and decision making, to aid practical learning for students and ship’s command teams utilising the novel use of technology and encouragement of frank debate in debriefing sessions.
Education
Master of Science - Leadership & Management
University of Portsmouth
NVQ Level 7 - Leadership and Management
Institute of Leadership & Management
United KingdomFoundation Degree in Science - Marine Studies
University of Plymouth
PlymouthIntermediate College Staff Course - Defence (Maritime)
Defence Academy
Shrivenham, OxfordshireMaritime Studies
Britannia Royal Naval College
DartmouthSkills
- Operational leadership
- Training and mentorship
- Programme development
- Communication skills
- Team oriented
- Mission focussed
- Organisational skills
Timeline
Training & Exercise Planner
Royal Navy
05.2023 - Current
Liaison Officer, Naval Attaché
Royal Navy
06.2022 - 05.2023
In-Service Capability Manager
Royal Navy
06.2021 - 06.2022
Career Manager, Personnel
Royal Navy
12.2019 - 06.2021
Defence Intelligence Analyst
Royal Navy
06.2015 - 12.2019
Air Warfare Instructor
Royal Navy
05.2013 - 06.2015
Master of Science - Leadership & Management
University of Portsmouth
NVQ Level 7 - Leadership and Management
Institute of Leadership & Management
Foundation Degree in Science - Marine Studies
University of Plymouth
Intermediate College Staff Course - Defence (Maritime)
Defence Academy
Maritime Studies
Britannia Royal Naval College