Commander Andrew Henderson

Andrew Henderson joined the Navy in 2005 as an Observer and gained his wings from 702 NAS flying Lynx Helicopters. He completed numerous operational deployments, from the Caribbean in the west, to Singapore in the Far East, but predominantly in the Middle East, with CALASH, TELIC and KIPION, serving in T23s and several RFAs. He then returned to instruct at 702 NAS, transitioning to Wildcat via 700W NAS, and instructing on 825 NAS before taking the first embarked Wildcat Flight East of Suez in HMS DARING in 2017.

On promotion to Lieutenant Commander (2017) he completed PWO(AV) , subsequently serving in Navy Command Headquarters in the Force Generation Cell, responsible for generation of task-group aviation packages and the Naval contribution to UK resilience operations such as OP BRIDGE. In 2018 he was selected as Senior Observer of 815 NAS and joined the role in 2019 where he enjoyed the challenge of maintaining the Front-Line capability of the Wildcat Force through COVID-19. During this time he was also able to use his instructor category to maintain separation between deploying flights and MCT R0 personnel. On completion of his SOBS time, he took some well-earned rest, taking the opportunity for shared parental leave.

Realising that 2 children was actually a lot of work, he returned to Navy Command as Deputy Staff Aviation Officer, and enjoyed conducting a root and branch update of all Aviation Books of Reference, as well as managing NATO HOSTACs crossdecking, including international working groups, and introduction of a new Aviation Book of Reference for Remotely Piloted Air Systems (BRd 769). As a Commander (2023) he joined Task Force KINDRED in MOD Whitehall, and worked for the International Fund for Ukraine. He was the sole military advisor to a team of civil servants and oversaw the contracting and delivery of over £1 billion worth of equipment to Ukraine in support of the war against Russia, funded by international partners. He worked on projects from gabions, to armed UAS and USVs, and a lot in between.

Andrew’s life outside of the Royal Navy is taken up with his family who all live in Bath. He enjoys watching Bath Rugby and as a season ticket holder will go and watch, come rain or shine. Any spare time that is left is spent doing DIY, having fun with Jennifer (wife), Margot (7) and Alice (5), and singing with an a capella group, The Lost Keys