Commodore Steve Bolton

Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures Royal Navy

Steve Bolton joined the Royal Navy following an engineering apprenticeship and short career in industry. He is currently serving in Navy Command HQ as Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures, responsible for overseeing Maritime Aviation Transformation; alongside his role as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the programmes that will enable the future Fleet Air Arm.

Over the past 3 decades, Steve has accumulated over 4500 flying hrs as a maritime helicopter pilot, spread across four main aircraft types. He has deployed on operations around the world in a variety of warships. A qualified Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Unit Warfare, Search and Rescue and Maritime Counter Terrorism pilot, he is also a Qualified Helicopter Instructor.

Steve has held command, leadership, and management positions in a range of Defence tasks that include basic and operational flying training, military workforce planning and capability delivery. Prior to his current assignment he was an SRO and Programme Director in HQ Air Command, responsible for delivering a range of programmes to include Hawk Capability Sustainment and the UK Military Flying Training System.

An alumnus of Kings College London and Said Business School (Oxford), he has an MA in Defence Studies and is a graduate of the Major Programmes Leadership Academy. He also Chairs the Royal Navy Field Gun Competition Executive Committee.