Captain Stu Crombie RN

Stu joined the Royal Navy directly from university in 2003. Qualifying as a Lynx Observer in 2006, he spent most of the next few years on 815 NAS deploying to the Gulf, firstly as Flight Observer in HMS MONTROSE, and then as Flight Commander in HMS LANCASTER. He also spent time embarked in HM Ships IRON DUKE, MONMOUTH and SUTHERLAND, and the German ship FGS BREMEN. On completion of his Flight Commander time, Stu specialised as an Aviation Warfare Officer and Qualified Observer Instructor, spending 2 years as the Squadron Warfare Officer and the Observer Training Officer on 702 NAS.

Two staff tours followed: the first as Military Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff Plans in the NATO Joint Forces Command in Naples, and the second as SO2 Aviation Advisor to Commander Operations. He returned to the cockpit as 815 Senior Observer in 2016. A year’s stint as Wildcat Maritime Force Deputy Commander followed this, prior to selection for promotion and attendance at Advanced Command and Staff Course and subsequent appointment as Executive Assistant to Commander Operations. Most recently, he spent 2 years as Commanding Officer 815 NAS, where his main focus was on improving the warfighting readiness of Wildcat Flights, before moving to NAvn as Hd Aviation in Feb 24. He main focus now is shifting the Fleet Air Arm to a position of firm warfighting readiness, which includes the introduction and employment of UAS.