Adam Wardrope

Vice President Market Development Leonardo Helicopters UK

Adam is currently the Vice President Market Development of Leonardo Helicopters UK based in Yeovil. Following a 34 year career in the Royal Air Force Adam joined Leonardo Electronics in 2024 as their Head of Strategic Capture and later as their Head of Strategic Engagement before moving across to the Helicopters Division in summer 2025. Adam joined the RAF as an aircraft technician in 1990 and commissioned from the ranks in 1997 to become a Rotary Wing Pilot. He was qualified on numerous types including Chinook, Lynx Mk7 & 9 and Puma HC2. Adam specialised as a Special Forces Pilot and Tactics Instructor and deployed on many operational tours including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Northern Ireland and the Balkans. During his long career Adam commanded number 7 Squadron, the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing and RAF Benson as the Medium Helicopter Force Commander. He held numerous high profile staff appointments including Military Assistant to DCGS MilCap, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff RAF Operations (A5) and Director ASTRA for the RAF. Adam also commanded all UK tri service military helicopter assets during the national Covid crisis response in 2020. He finally reached the rank of Air Commodore, and his final tour was as the Head of Capability Planning (Finance and Military Capability) within the MoD.