Richard Parkes CBE

Director HM Coastguard (2012-2019)

Richard has recently retired as Director of HM Coastguard and was responsible for HM Coastguard and Counter Pollution operations. He was chairman of the UK SAR Strategic Committee and the Senior Responsible Owner for two major transformation programmes: the UK SAR Helicopter programme which is worth £1.9bn and Future Coastguard, a major change programme that represents a new strategic direction for HM Coastguard and puts in place a new infrastructure and modernises the Coastguard profession in the UK. Her Majesty’s Coastguard coordinate maritime search and rescue within the UK SAR region which covers some 1.25 million square nautical miles of sea and over 10,500 nautical miles of coastline. Richard began his maritime career in the Merchant Navy as a cadet with Cayzer Irvine Shipping. He went on to become a Coastguard in Bermuda, finally taking responsibility for search and rescue, counter pollution and navigation safety for the territory. He has his own theory about the Bermuda Triangle. Richard was awarded a CBE for his contribution to maritime safety and services to transport.