Mark Slawson – “View from the Bridge” – Oct 2019

Mark Slawson completed over 35 years service in the Royal Navy, joining as a Marine Engineer Officer in 1978. He served at sea on 8 ships, including as Commander (E) of the largest RN ship at the time, HMS OCEAN.

As a senior officer ashore, he served in a variety of roles including Chief of Staff to a Vice Admiral, Contract Manager for Frigate and Destroyer Refits, Head of Engineering in Portsmouth Dockyard, Head of Personnel for the RN engineering branch, and ultimately as Commanding Officer of HMS SULTAN, and inaugural Commandant of the Defence College of Technical Training.

Since leaving the Senior Service, he has been the Fleet & Technical Director and latterly the Operations Director of Red Funnel, the well-known provider of navigational challenges in the Solent!

Mark, a sailor himself with a Beneteau First 30, spoke to the club about some of the challenges he has met during his long naval career and his time with Red Funnel. He provided a ‘view from the engine room’ of one organisation, and a ‘view from the bridge’ of the other.

10th October 2019