Kevin Fleming

Background

About Kevin Fleming

Physicist / maritime aviator / analytical & critical thinker / leader / internationally & linguistically engaged. After graduating in Physics from the Royal College of Science, Imperial College London, I joined the Royal Navy. The first stages of my career were as a maritime aviator operating Lynx helicopters from warships in many of the world’s seas and oceans; I gained extensive experience as an aircrew training and electronic warfare instructor, including serving and teaching overseas with the Portuguese Navy. A number of supervisory and executive flying posts followed with my time in the cockpit culminating in Command of the Maritime Lynx Training Squadron responsible for delivering all aircrew and engineer training. My final contribution to the Fleet Air Arm was as Commander of the Maritime Lynx & Wildcat Force responsible for bringing the then brand-new Wildcat helicopter into Service. A second distinct theme of my career encompassed critical thinking skills, contextual analysis and individual leadership development. By analysing defence capabilities and overseas UK operations, I identified and reported strategic and operational lessons to the Chiefs of Defence and Heads of the Armed Forces. At the UK Defence Academy as Director of the Royal Naval Division I was responsible for educating Royal Naval Officers in these key skills, whilst at the Centre for Defence Leadership & Management I developed and facilitated delivery of programmes to develop the individual leadership skills of the most senior military and civilian leaders within UK Defence. Finally, to end over three decades of Service, I spent four years in Brazil as the UK Defence Attaché. My excellent diplomatic and Brazilian Portuguese linguistic skills saw me provide expert insight and influence for UK Defence, whilst skilfully representing the UK Armed Forces. As a result, I significantly strengthened the UK-Brazil Defence relationship in this uniquely challenging and beautiful country. I am now an International and Stakeholder Engagement consultant active in various regions of the world. Currently I am engaged in the Sargasso Sea and Eastern Pacific region, focused on developing Blue Economies by enhancing High Seas Governance and Maritime Domain Awareness. I am also engaged in developing Defence, Security & Diplomacy in South & Central America. I am also a Leadership Coach involved in helping to develop senior NHS leaders.