Daniel Stembridge

Dan Stembridge is a former Royal Navy fighter pilot and senior leader with significant operational and programmatic experience of Combat Air, Carrier Strike and embarked Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS). An Air Warfare Instructor and operational test pilot; he has flown in multiple conflicts, amassing over 3000 hours and 1300 deck landings in Lynx maritime attack helicopters and strike-fighters including the Sea harrier FA2, AV8-B and FA18E/F Rhino with the US Navy. He commanded an air station of 3000 people, where he was the Generating Authority for 9 squadrons, across 5 different aircraft types, including embarked helicopters and Uncrewed Air Systems. In his final appointment, Dan commanded the UK’s Carrier Strike Group air wing onboard HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

He is now the CEO of WholeShip Limited; a defence & aerospace company that has a unique facility in Cornwall, The National Drone Hub, that supports the Test & Evaluation of Uncrewed Air Systems and their associated technologies. He continues to support the House of Commons Defence Select Committee with advice on Carrier Strike, Combat Air and embarked capability, and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.