Rear Admiral Ivan Finn

Director Navy Acquisition Royal Navy

Ivan Finn joined the Royal Navy in 1989 as a University Cadet, subsequently graduating in Aeronautical Engineering from Bristol University. He qualified as an AEO in 1995 and since then has served in a range of Squadron and Air Station assignments supporting fixed and rotary wing aviation.

Acquisition assignments have included the then Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (1997- 1999), developing advanced flight control concepts for the Joint Strike Fighter; the Joint Combat Aircraft Project Team (2001-2003) defining the support arrangements for the UK F35; the Merlin Delivery Team, as the Type Airworthiness Authority (2018-2019) and more recently as the DE&S portfolio head for Merlin and Wildcat (2019-2023).

More broadly, he has served on the staff of Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as a Divisional Officer (1999-2000) and Commander Training (2012-2014); in the MoD as MA to the 2- star Capability Manager (Precision Attack), whose portfolio included all the major maritime equipment programmes; and in NCHQ as Fleet AEO (2007-2010) and DACOS AE (2014-2018). He is a graduate of ACSC (2007) and an alumnus of the Windsor Leadership Trust.

In May 2023 he was appointed as Director Navy Acquisition.

Ivan lives with his wife and teenage daughter in Devon and enjoys sailing and skiing.