As Warrant Officer of the Royal Navy, Hanson brings a decade of Executive experience from 6 Executive roles serving in Carriers to Frigates, Squadrons to Flotilla, Battle-Staffs and Joint HQs. He has 32 years of maritime experience across front line, serving in 6 different Ships including serving on HMS WESTMINSTER in every rank as a Warfare Specialist, a Weapon Engineer, and as Executive Warrant Officer. He is passionate about people, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of success on Operations. Hanson was born in Halifax, but he was made in the Royal Navy.
Joining the Royal Navy in 1992 as a Seaman Operator, his first ship was HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. His early service involved multiple deployments across the globe in T23 Frigates and Aircraft Carriers. Promoted to Leading Hand (1999), in HMS WESTMINSTER he was extracted to conduct a foundation degree as a Weapon Engineer, and rapidly found a passion for the technical, earning a degree distinction, specialising in weapons, he was promoted to Petty Officer (2004) as a result of his success as a Seawolf Maintainer and subsequently promoted Chief Petty Officer (2007).
Serving nearly exclusively at sea in a number of Ships, highlights have included; Missile Group Head in HMS IRON DUKE (2010), including Op ELLAMY; serving as Warrant Officer Weapons in HMS WESMTINSTER (2013) on Op KIPION; Executive Warrant Officer in HMS IRON DUKE (2016) as one of the first ‘Adaptive Force’ ships and HMS WESTMINSTER (2018) working to NATO on anti-submarine missions; and most recently serving as Executive Warrant Officer in HMS PRINCE OF WALES (2022), deploying to the USA on novel F35 Trials, generating her for Very High Readiness tasking and conducting the major NATO Ex STEADFAST DEFENDER.
Service elsewhere has included; as an MCTA Missile Trials Officer (2008), developing the first of class Seawolf Mid-Life Update and live firings; Flotilla Executive Warrant Officer (2019) delivering Guidance Leadership, assurance and Direction to every class of Naval Ship; as Warrant Officer of the Surface Flotilla, where he primarily focused on the moral component of operational capability across the Surface Flotilla to all ranks and rates, departments and branches, often working with organisations outside the Royal Navy to improve the lived experience of our people; Hanson has also served in a Joint Inter Agency Task Force (2022) as the EWO working with a wide cross section of government departments, military and civilian personnel.
Promoted WO 2nd Class (2012), WO 1st Class (2014), he received the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for his service (2017), Hanson loves the outdoors, is passionate about running, mental and physical fitness and empowering people to be the best versions of themselves.
