On Tuesday, 12th October 2021 the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity had the pleasure of hosting Vice Admiral Chris Gardner, Director General Ships at Defence Equipment and Support, in conversation with our Vice President, Stephen Watson.
Watch the video to gain an insight into some of the many complexities of the defence of the United Kingdom from one of the Royal Navy’s most senior Officers. Vice Admiral Gardner joined as a Logistics Officer in 1984 and he spent most of his early career in the Submarine Service. Promoted to Commander in 1999, he became Executive Assistant to Flag Officer Sea Training before taking up his last sea-going appointment as Commander Logistics on HMS ARK ROYAL. Following his time in one of Britain’s most famous Aircraft Carriers, Chris was selected for promotion to Captain and progressed to Commodore shortly after, where he became Head of Capability Improvement in the MOD.
In 2014, after nearly 8 years in the MOD, he returned to the Navy and in November 2015, he was promoted to Rear Admiral as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships). Three and a half years of intense activity then followed, notably as Senior Responsible Owner for both the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and T31e General Purpose Frigate Programme.
Today, Vice Admiral Gardiner leads the Ships Domain in Defence Equipment and Support and is at the heart of a period of significant change and expansion for the Royal Navy with renewed focus on cutting edge technologies and anti-submarine warfare.
British Warships are notoriously hard to build, they are complex, state of the art, engineering challenges with an exacting role and potentially huge price tag.
The RNRMC is delighted to give you the opportunity to get to know the man who currently has this responsibility upon his shoulders, as the Royal Navy embarks upon the next phase of acquiring not one, but two new warship designs simultaneously. Vice Admiral Chris Gardner, a logistician by trade, deservedly caught the selectors eye and as Director General Ships leads this capability area in Defence Equipment and Support and is at the heart of a period of significant change and expansion for the Royal Navy with renewed focus on innovative, cutting-edge technologies and future welfare.
You can watch the exclusive interview here.
