Since commissioning in 2003, Col Stuart Hay’s service has centred around both planning and executing the integration of the Air and Land Components, at brigade and divisional levels. He has a BSC (Hons) in Business and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. His advanced staff training was as a member of the Army Advanced Development Programme.

Operationally, he has deployed to Iraq twice; as a Multiple Commander on OP TELIC, conducting Security Sector Reform in Basra in 2005 and as ADC to the 3* DCG Multi-National Force-Iraq in Baghdad in 2009. He deployed as a Fire Support Team Commander in Afghanistan in 2007, on Op HERRICK 6, supporting both the Grenadier Guards and Royal Anglian Regiment Battle Groups. In 2022, he was Director Plans for the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant on Op SHADER.

His service on the Staff has included delivering joint operational medical capability for the Surgeon General, largely to Afghanistan at the height of the conflict. He was also SO2 J5 in the 1st Artillery Brigade, and a Chief of the Joint Air Ground Integration Cell (JAGIC), with HQ 3rd (UK) Division.

He commanded 137 (Java) Battery and 132 Battery (The Bengal Rocket Troop), a focus of which was broadening the contingent deployment opportunities for a nascent capability. As Second-in-Command of 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, he controlled both the rebasing of the last British Army artillery regiment in Germany, and the reformation of the divisional deep fires regiment in Larkhill.

In 2022 he took command of 16th Regiment Royal Artillery (The London Invicta Gunners) during the first operational fielding of Sky Sabre to both the Falkland Islands and eastern Europe, and the return to readiness of the Land Environment Air Picture Provision capability.

In May 2024, he promoted to Colonel, and took command of 7th Air Defence Group; the UK’s Ground based Air Defence Formation.

He spends his free time with Nikki (wife), Noah (13) and Isla (10) doing anything outdoors and active. Holidays are usually spent on anything that floats, messing about on rivers and beaches in Cornwall. He occasionally returns to relive past glories on hockey and cricket pitches until his knees quickly remind him why he originally stopped.