Neil has 30+ years’ experience in aviation operations, strategy development, and corporate affairs. Qualifying as an Army pilot in 1991, he flew Gazelle, Lynx, and Apache helicopters and commanded increasingly complex aviation organisations. From 2009-15 (with a gap in 2012-13 to command UK aviation in Helmand Province, Afghanistan), he was responsible for planning and executing helicopter, fixed wing and UAS deployments for the UK armed forces on exercises and operations globally. As Head of the Army Air Corps in 2013-15, he accelerated the integration of Tactical UAS into British Army Aviation alongside rotary wing, despite the many cultural and organisational challenges.

Between aviation roles, over 18 years he became the British Army’s expert in internal and external communications, reputation management and stakeholder engagement, with his final, board-level appointment being Director Army Engagement & Communications in the Ministry of Defence.

Having left the Army as a major general in 2022, Neil led the Centre of Excellence workstream within the UK Police BVLOS Pathway Programme from 2022-2025 and was the project lead on all communications and engagement work. Besides his aviation consultancy, he holds non-executive and charity trustee roles, including as Chairman of the Army Flying Museum, and is a gliding instructor.