Captain Sparky Macleod

Programme Director Carrier Strike Royal Navy

Captain ‘Sparky’ Macleod was appointed Head of Carrier Strike in March 2022. Reporting to the 2* Director Force Generation, he is the singular focus for Carrier Strike within the Navy Command Headquarters. He is responsible for cohering carrier strike activity encompassing force generation, capability enhancements and driving towards the Headmark of Full Operating Capability of Carrier Enabled Power Projection. A key aspect of his role is strengthening bonds with the US under the Statement of Intent for Carrier Co-operation, developing Carrier Strike with partner nations and working closely with Air Command to maximise the potency of the F35B Lightning

He joined the Royal Navy as an air engineer officer in 1989 and studied at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon before completing his Certificate of Competency on 815 NAS with the Lynx Mk8. He subsequently qualified as a frontline maritime helicopter pilot, flying the Sea King Mk6 from frigates, carriers and support ships before converting to the Merlin HM Mk1 and forming the first Merlin front line Squadron in 2001.

In 2003 he completed No 41 Rotary Wing Course at the Empire Test Pilots’ School and was assigned to the Rotary Wing Test Squadron as the Senior Pilot and Merlin / Sea King project pilot. There he was responsible for a wide range of experimental trials activity encompassing R&D, snow and icing trials in Canada, SHOL expansion onboard HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, performance trials in the USA and tactical system development in the Caribbean. He has flown over 3000hrs and 32 aircraft types.

He hung up his flying suit and returned to his engineering career in 2006 with a staff appointment in the Personnel arena but the pull of aviation proved too strong and in 2007 he transferred to the Warfare branch as full-time aircrew. He completed a staff role within the Merlin Force Headquarters cohering User activity for future Merlin developments before returning to the frontline in 2008 as XO/Senior Pilot of 814NAS, conducting embarked operational flying with the Merlin Mk1. On promotion to OF4 in 2011 he had the privilege of commanding ETPS, delivering experimental flight test training to UK and foreign students to a recognisable, global standard.

Thereafter he moved in the Queen Elizabeth Carrier programme, completing various capability management roles in DE&S and NCHQ as the carriers transitioned from build, through trials and toward initial operational capability. He was awarded the Pooley's Queen Elizabeth Sword in 2016 for the most significant contribution to the development of Carrier Strike capability. During this period he also served as Chief Naval Test Pilot, leading the RN operational test and evaluation organisation and resurrecting a post last held by Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown. Promoted in 2020 he served a year in Iraq leading the coalition air advisory team for Operation Inherent Resolve.

He is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College, Toronto and a member of the Society of Experimental Pilots. Married with 2 children he lives by the sea in Cornwall and is an active triathlete