Colonel Simon Dean

Commando Force Programme Director Royal Marines

Simon joined the Royal Marines in 2000. He served with the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines on completion of Commando Training, protecting the UK's Nuclear Deterrent and conducting Maritime Security tasks. Subsequent appointments in 45 and 40 Commando included an operational tour to Iraq and deployments to West Africa, the USA, and Norway. Early staff appointments included training and assessing maritime security operations in the Fleet Sea Training organisation, and an Operational Tour with 3 Cdo Bde HQ during their time in command of Task Force Helmand in Afghanistan. After promotion to Major and Initial Staff College, he joined Navy Command HQ in the Land and Littoral Manoeuvre Capability area before assuming command of M Coy, 42 Commando RM. During his time in sub-unit command, the unit assumed the role of the Lead Commando Group with deployments to the USA, Africa and the Middle East providing forward based contingency, before his Coy had the honour of performing Royal Duties in London as the Queens Guard. He followed this with a return to a staff role in the MOD in the Finance and Military Capability area during the 2015 Defence Review. Following promotion to Lt Col and attendance on the Advanced Command and Staff Course, during which he completed a master's degree in Defence Studies, Simon moved to the Maritime Operations Centre as SO1 Littoral Manoeuvre where he was the principle Royal Marine advisor to Royal Navy Commander Operations. On selection for command he was chosen to be Commanding Officer of Command Wing at the Commando Training Centre, responsible for the delivery of all Royal Marine Initial Officer and NCO Training, the focal point for Royal Marine Leadership and Officer Career Development. He re-joined Navy Command HQ in 2021 in the Royal Navy Force Development team, providing the evidence and challenge to determine the capabilities the future Royal Navy requires. He promoted to Colonel in Oct 2023 on assuming the role as Deputy Commander UK Commando Forces where he fulfilled the role of Commander Land Forces and was responsible for enabling, generating and operating Cdo Force activity globally in support of Advance Force and Maritime Special Operations outputs. From here he took his front-line knowledge back into the capability area and assumed his current role in Navy Acquisition as the Commando Force Programme Director.