David James (BGS 1966-1973)

David James joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth on leaving school.

He qualified as a seaman officer serving in HMS Nubian and HMS Berwick in the West Indies, Mediterranean and North Atlantic. Selected for flying training in 1977, he was awarded Observer wings in 1978 and joined 820 Naval Air Squadron in HMS Berwick later that year. A specialist in anti-submarine warfare, David was appointed to a succession of flying appointments including overseas exchange with the Canadian forces. He also qualified as an instructor, teaching ab initio and graduate Observers and was appointed in command of 826 Squadron A Flight.

As a Lieutenant Commander he attended Royal Naval Staff College Greenwich and served as Executive Officer of HMS Marlborough during her first commission. His first appointment in the Ministry of Defence was as the Observers’ appointer where he was responsible for managing the careers of some 650 naval officers.

Promoted to Commander in 1984 he returned to the Ministry of Defence to lead the studies into the requirements for a new class of aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy. This appointment culminated with the political decision to acquire two new larger aircraft carriers announced in the conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review.

David was then appointed as the Staff Aviation Officer on the British Navy Staff in Washington DC. Living in Northern Virginia he spent three years working closely with all aspects of United States naval aviation, but particularly their aircraft carrier force. This knowledge was put to immediate use on return to England when David was appointed to the Maritime Warfare Centre in Portsmouth with responsibility for the development of Strike Warfare Concepts for the Ministry of Defence.

In June 2003 David was selected for promotion to Captain and will now join the Commander in Chief Fleet Staff as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Strike Warfare. He will be responsible for ensuring the current Invincible Class aircraft carriers deliver the required military capability and for preparing the Fleet for the new aircraft carriers due to enter service from 2010 onward.

David met his wife Sue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida while serving on HMS Nubian in 1975; they married in 1979 and have two sons. Graham now lives with his wife and their son in Northern Virginia and Colin is doing volunteer teaching work in South Africa before attending Liverpool University in September 2004.

Gerry James (BGS 1936-1940)