New Defence Equipment and Support Chief Operating Officer appointed

New Defence Equipment and Support Chief Operating Officer appointed

Dr Andrew Tyler has been confirmed as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) for DE&S.

Dr Tyler was previously DE&S Director General Ships, where he was responsible for putting the Surface Fleet to sea and keeping it there. He was also the MoD Senior Responsible Owner for the Maritime Industrial Strategy, a key part of the overall Defence Industrial Strategy.

He brings additional industry experience to his new post; being a former managing director of BMT Defence Services Ltd, the UK's largest independent naval design and engineering consultancy.

In the role of COO, Andrew will be accountable to the Chief of Defence Materiel for the effective and coherent delivery of complex project portfolios to provide materiel capability to the front line, through- life, end to end and at best value for defence.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Tyler said:

“I am delighted to be appointed to this role and am looking forward to this new challenge. I will enjoy the satisfaction of working closely with the Armed Forces, industry and so many dedicated people in DE&S to deliver for operations now and in the future.”

Dr Tyler graduated in Nautical Studies from the University of Plymouth, working for 10 years in marine environmental science and information systems. During this time he completed his PhD in marine pollution followed by the Executive MBA programme.

In 2001 Andrew was appointed as Managing Director of BMT Defence Services Ltd, where he was closely involved in a number of defence projects including Future Carrier and the submarine programme.

Andrew joined the Mod in May 2006 as Director Land and Maritime in the Defence Procurement Agency and became Director General Ships in April 2007.