Commodore Nick Sargent

Head of Helicopters 1, National Armaments - Materiel UK MoD - NAD Group

Commodore Nick Sargent joined the Royal Navy in 1987 as an Air Engineering Mechanic and after initial training served within the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) in 707 & 845 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) (Sea King Mk4) and saw service in Kuwait and Iraq in the Gulf War (1991). Selected for Artificer in 1991, he completed 3 years training at HMS DAEDALUS before returning to the CHF for service in 848 NAS as a Petty Officer Supervisor. In 1995, he was selected to become an Air Engineer Officer (AEO) and completed a BEng Aerospace Systems Engineering Degree at Southampton University. On return to HMS HERON, he gained his Certificate of Competence (2001) on 702 NAS (Lynx) before serving on 815 NAS (Lynx) as the Assistant AEO and then as the AEO of the Lynx Operational Evaluation Unit until 2003. He then worked within Defence Equipment and Support as the Merlin Project Team (PT) Avionics Engineering Authority and then as the Project Scrutineer for Defence Helicopter Projects before returning to Merlin and Sea King PT as a Project and Integrated Logistics Support Manager. In 2009, he returned once more to the CHF, this time as the AEO of 845 NAS, which culminated in service on Operation ELLAMY as the Type Air Group AEO embarked in HMS OCEAN with responsibility for all embarked helicopters (Apache, Sea King and Lynx) that conducted operations over Libya in 2011. On completion of front-line service in 2012, he was appointed to Navy Command HQ as Air Engineer SO2 working for the Command AEO before selection for Commander in 2013. Cdr Sargent was subsequently appointed as the Release to Service Authority (SO1) and then as the Naval Strategy lead for Aviation Safety policy within the Military Aviation Authority before working in the Joint Helicopter Command as Availability Manager for all UK Support Helicopters (Chinook, Merlin, Puma and Sea King). After a short period managing the Navy's Personnel Recovery Programme for the Naval Secretary he became Commander Air Engineering and Operational Support for 25 Merlin Support Helicopters and 6 Wildcat Reconnaissance Helicopters at CHF. Nick has been a Type Airworthiness Authority (TAA) for Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) prior to undertaking the role of Merlin Delivery Team Senior Operations Lead in Nov 20 before promotion to Captain and becoming the Team Leader in Sep 22. Selected to be Interim Head of Helicopters 1 in May 24, Nick had the responsibility for the entire Hels 1 portfolio including the Merlin, NMH, MHP and Wildcat programmes and also for leading the transformation of helicopter support through the Rotary Wing Enterprise. From Dec 24 - Jul 25, Nick served with the Military Aviation Authority as Dep Hd Certification but has now returned on full promotion as Head Helicopters 1. In any spare time he can find, he is also a Trustee/Chair/Board Member on 3 local residents committees and enjoys outdoor pursuits such as walking, cycling and running. DIY has also been known to feature quite highly in any spare time!