Commander Brett Gillies

Commanding Officer - 1710 Naval Air Squadron Royal Navy

On joining the Royal Navy, Cdr Gillies first trained as an Air Engineer Officer at HMS SULTAN that culminated in the award of his Certificate of Competence at 824 NAS, RNAS CULDROSE. Completion of this saw him selected to undergo further training as a Fleet Air Arm Pilot with the ultimate aim of becoming a Maintenance Test Pilot. After a total of six years in training, he was eventually awarded pilot wings on completion of Lynx Operational Conversion Course at 702 NAS. Finally arriving on the frontline with 815 NAS, he completed two tours as a Flight Pilot in HMS SOMERSET and HMS LANCASTER before being recommended for the role of Flight Commander. This new role saw him lead a Lynx flight as they embarked in HMS SUTHERLAND and deploy on Operation Cougar which involved several periods of involvement in Operations Ellamy and Unified Protector in Libya. Towards the end of this tour, he joined HMS EDINBURGH as a relief Flight Commander where he travelled to the South Atlantic to complete the second half of an Atlantic Patrol Task South deployment.

He returned to the Air Engineering branch in Jan 2011 where he was appointed as the Lynx Maintenance Test Pilot and head of the Yeovilton Flight Test section. Whilst in this role he was also given the responsibility as the Deputy Continuing Airworthiness Manager for the Dauphin aircraft supporting FOST. Promoted to Lt Cdr in 2013 he was subsequently selected for a Charge appointment as the AEO of 815 NAS. During this appointment he successfully oversaw the transition of the squadron from Lynx to Wildcat, which not only presented challenges with managing two aircraft types but also involved moving the entire squadron to a new location whilst simultaneously continuing to deliver frontline output.

In 2016, he was appointed as the Maritime Aviation certification officer within the Military Aviation Authority responsible for the certification of all MOD aviation capable Ships including the new carrier HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. He was shortlisted to be the Military Assistant to the 2* Deputy Director of the Defence Safety Authority, which he assumed in Jun 2017. In this role he assisted the Deputy Director in the delivery of the Operation and Assurance of seven defence regulators where his work was recognised with the award of a 3* commendation from the Director General. Selected for promotion to Commander in May 2019, he completed a short tour as the Mechanical Engineering Authority in the Wildcat Delivery Team gaining a Letter of Airworthiness Authority and an MSc in Military Aerospace and Airworthiness. On promotion he attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy Shrivenham, completing a dissertation in the use of Uncrewed Air Systems for battlefield medical evacuation. Most recently employed as the SO1 in the Royal Navy’s Release To Service Authority, he used his aviator experience supporting Air System Release To Service, Ship Air Clearances and acceptance of Maritime Air Traffic Management equipment. Having been selected for Professional Command he joins 1710 NAS in July 2024 as the Commanding Officer.

Cdr Gillies is heavily supported at home by his wife Helen who is a palliative care nurse, and he is kept busy by his two children, Sophie and Emily. Outside of work, he is a keen supporter of Bath rugby, and he enjoys playing golf, cycling and football whist also making the most of the various Adventurous Training opportunities available to members of the military.