INTEGRATING UNMANNED & AUTONOMOUS
SYSTEMS ACROSS THE BATTLESPACE

24TH - 25TH SEPTEMBER 2024 | COPTHORNE TARA, KENSINGTON, LONDON

Colonel Richard Ball

Commander UAS Group Joint Aviation Command

Colonel Richard Ball commissioned into the Army Air Corps (AAC) in December 1999 and was awarded wings in 2001.

He was initially posted to 664 Squadron, 9 Regiment AAC as an anti-tank Lynx pilot, as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. In 2003 he was attached to 3 Regiment AAC for Op TELIC, and on return was selected for the first Apache Conversion to Type as a Flight Commander with 656 Squadron. Following Apache Conversion to Role training, he enjoyed 2 years developing the capability, including the first maritime deployment, culminating with the first Apache deployment to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 4 in 2006. Subsequently, as Ops Officer 9 Regiment AAC, he oversaw the re-organisation of an all Lynx Regiment in 2008 as part of an aviation re-balance within 16 Air Assault Brigade. In November 2011 he took command of 663 Squadron, 3 Regiment AAC and deployed on Op HERRICK in January 2013 to provide the Apache component of the Joint Aviation Group. He assumed command of 4 Regiment AAC in January 2017. His time with 4 Regiment AAC was spent at readiness in support of Land, Maritime and UK SF operations and included the first Apache deployment to the Arctic and embarkation on HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.

At staff, he has enjoyed a variety of roles. As an SO2 he worked in MOD Main Building and was responsible for a number of Joint CIS projects and capabilities as the Joint User, involving a blend of operational and project planning, and policy development. Following ACSC in 2014, he was the Military Assistant to the 3-Star Surgeon General for a year and in 2019 he deployed again to Afghanistan as Military Assistant to the 2-Star UK Deputy Adviser to the Afghan Minister of Interior Affairs. He was promoted to Colonel in 2019 and was Assistant Head Commitments at the Joint Helicopter Command until late 2022 when he took over as COS JHC as an acting Brigadier until May 2023. He assumed Command of the Watchkeeper Force on 17 April 2023 and subsequently the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Group on 1 Dec 23.

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Richard.

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