Officers of the Association

Secretary Andy Harris joined the Committee as the MOD representative in 2012 and became Hon. Sec. in 2016. Additionally he has led the FAAOA Platoon at the National Remembrance Parade since 2018. He served in the Royal Navy for 36 years retiring in 2016.  Commencing his career as a Naval Aviator, he flew Sea King helicopters, instructed navigation and air mission leadership in the Jetstream turboprop and then flew Canberra jets as Electronic Warfare Officer

Commodore Blackmore joined the Royal Navy in 1996 after graduating from the University of Bristol, where he served in HMS DASHER as a RNR Midshipman. Undertaking Initial Sea Training in HMS YORK, James passed out from BRNC DARTMOUTH in 1997 and commenced Fast Jet flying training; he joined 800 Naval Air Squadron in 2001 at RNAS YEOVILTON flying the Sea Harrier FA2, embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL. Qualifying as an Air Warfare Instructor in 2003,

Treasurer Griff was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1988. Following Dartmouth and a brief spell at sea he completed flying training in 1991 and joined RNAS Yeovilton for the first time. A Commando helicopter pilot with over 3000 flying hours, he flew the majority on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to specialising as a helicopter instructor, wider experience includes multiple embarkations in amphibious ships and deployments to the Arctic,

A Joint Honours graduate in Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering from UMIST, Ollie joined the Royal Navy in 1976 as a full career seaman officer. Selected for flying training in 1982, his subsequent career saw a mix of operational flying, in ASW Sea King and Lynx helicopters, interspersed by ship command appointments and included CO HMS GUARDIAN, Flight Commander HMS ALACRITY, XO HMS NEWCASTLE, CO 706 Naval Air Squadron as well as running the airfield at

John FitzPatrick joined the Royal Navy in 1992. After Fleet training deployed on NATO operations in the Adriatic Sea, he read a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Maritime Defence Management, graduating with honours in 1996. He is an Executive Aviator with broad experience in Operations, Capability and Acquisition, Defence Engagement and Management of Defence. His junior career saw a mix of aviation and surface fleet assignments. In aviation, he was a helicopter Observer in the

Ed Phillips joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman following his education in Scotland. After initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth and in the frigate HMS CHATHAM, he completed flying training and was awarded his pilots’ wings. He flew the Sea Harrier FA2 fighter with 899 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS), the ground-attack Harrier GR7 and GR9 with 800 NAS, and was a Department Head on exchange with the US Navy, flying

Mark joined the Royal Navy in 1986 and completed initial appointments as navigator of HMS Sheraton then HMS Fearless as OOW1 before catching the selectors eye and commencing flying training in 1990 in the venerable Chipmunk, Bulldog and Gazelle. Frontline was spent in the  Lynx Mk3 and Mk 8 as P2, Pilot and Flight Commander before warfare training and tours in HMS Coventry and Ark Royal. Next came Senior Pilot at 815 Squadron during the

Serena Brotherton joined BRNC Dartmouth in 2003 after earning a degree in Economics and Politics from Queen’s University Belfast. Her naval career began at university, where she joined the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS CAROLINE.Brotherton received her Wings as an Airborne Surveillance and Control Observer in June 2006 and spent the next four years on frontline operations with 849 NAS B Flt and 857 NAS, participating in various global missions, including Operations VELA, CALASH, and

John “Sooty” Sutcliffe retired from active service in 2013 following an extensive career as a Lynx Observer and PWO(U). In his 25 years in operations he served in 10 ships and 3 squadrons where he narrowly avoided admonishments and awards in equal measures.  In his last 10 years of service he enjoyed 2 tours in MoD Centre. First in Equipment Capability and then Policy and Commitments. He also enjoyed 3 years working for the USN in