Justyn Cannon, explains his rewarding role at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)
Category: Success Stories
Publish date: 03/03/2021
As an ILS Manager, it’s Justyn Cannon’s job to help make sure the Royal Air Force has everything it needs to fly and maintain aircraft. We spoke to him to find out more about his role at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), what skills his role requires and why ILS is such a rewarding career to embark upon.
Why did you choose to pursue an ILS career in DE&S? Where did your journey begin?
"I’d been in the Royal Air Force for 22 years, where I worked as an Aircraft Avionics Technician and went on to become a Chief Technician in the Engineering branch, before joining DE&S as an ILS Manager just over two years ago.
"When I left the RAF, I was keen for a career change. The role of an ILS Manager at DE&S caught my eye due to the variety of exciting and challenging tasks I’d be undertaking. It’s a job where you can really make a difference to the equipment that’s delivered to the front line, and as someone who was used to being on the receiving end of those deliveries, that really resonated with me.
"This opportunity also appeared to combine the benefits of serving in the military, with the opportunity to be part of a fantastic civilian organisation, including a whole host of employment benefits and opportunities. There’s a fantastic sense of teamwork and camaraderie in DE&S – its functional approach brings everyone together to achieve a common goal."
What does your role entail?
"As an ILS manager, no two days are the same. Working collaboratively with technical specialists across DE&S, industry suppliers and the Armed Forces, as well as using Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) methodologies, it’s my job to help plan and deliver cost effective and technologically cutting-edge equipment and support solutions for the Armed Forces.
"This could mean designing a support solution from concept through to disposal, optimising equipment during its in-service phase, or supporting the efficient disposal of equipment at the end of its operational life. It might cover in-the-field support robust enough for the Army’s Apache helicopters, or the state-of-the-art maintenance required by the RAF’s latest Lightning II aircraft.
"In my current project, we’re procuring brand new state-of-the-art aircraft and, for the past 18 months, my primary role has been to develop and provide a wide-ranging support package that will allow these aircraft to be operated and maintained in a whole host of different environments, around the world.
"As you can imagine, the support packages have to be fit-for-purpose and procured at the best possible price for the taxpayer. Everything has a cost and everyone will have an opinion on what they want, but it’s the role of the ILS manager to balance these requirements."
Why is your job important?
"My role is important because we’re delivering essential support to the front line. We make sure they’ve got the right equipment, in the right place, at the right time. The mission they’re on and the environment they will encounter dictates the equipment they’ll need; from the Arctic to the desert or jungle. We’re in charge of everything, from concept through to disposal. Without the work we do in the background, our Armed Forces simply wouldn’t have the equipment they need."
Is your role rewarding?
"When you see the aircraft that you’ve been working on flying over your house or on the news, delivering medical aid, for example, it’s really rewarding. The Armed Forces have their capabilities because of something we’ve delivered and you know the equipment you’ve provided works and that you’ve actually played a role in saving lives.
Do you need extensive experience to become an ILS Manager?
"My previous experience working on aircraft definitely helps me in my current role as and ILS Manager for the Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme, but I’m confident that the in-house training I have received at DE&S would allow me to apply this knowledge to any programme across DE&S – from fighter jets, armoured vehicles, submarines and aircraft carriers, through to clothing and ammunition. No previous experience or formal ILS training is required because you have the support of your specialist teams and the extensive training opportunities provided by DE&S."
What are the best parts of working at DE&S?
"Other than great training and career progression opportunities, I enjoy working at the Abbey Wood site, which has some great facilities, including a gym. We also have brilliant charity events and open days each year.
"It’s also great to work in such a diverse environment. I work with people from all walks of life who bring with them differences in thought. This is vital in engineering as we need people who can think ‘outside the box’.
"The other thing that appeals to me is the flexibility. You can achieve a great work-life balance as I am able to choose the hours I work, which means I can fit my triathlon training into my work week."
What are the opportunities to develop and progress within your function?
"As I arrived in the ILS role as an engineer with no formal ILS or ILS training, I was keen to read about DE&S’ 70:20:10 approach to learning and development. It’s broken down into three distinct yet complementary headings; ‘learning from doing’ (70%), ‘learning from others’ (20%) and ‘learning from formal training’ (10%). I have found the approach really suits my way of learning – it doesn’t just involve reading and regurgitating masses of literature.
"The ‘learning from doing’ and ‘learning from others’ approach, along with the clear direction laid out in DE&S’s Policy and Guidance, gives you the confidence to hit the ground running. As an ILS manager, I feel fully supported by the Integrated Logistics Function and wider support community within the organisation.
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Applying the 70:20:10 approach enabled me to acquire my ILS Practitioner Certificate in the first 12 months of being in DE&S and gave me the confidence to lead and manage ILS activities within my team.
"While I haven’t gone down the route of formal further education, DE&S runs several schemes throughout the year for all employees at all levels, where you can apply for a place on degree and masters-level courses. DE&S cares about your professional development and will support you with your training needs."
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in your field?
"Don’t be put off by the size of some the projects you see in the media.
"When I joined the RAF, I didn’t think they’d be able to train me to become an aircraft technician. And when I joined DE&S, I had the same feeling that I was pushing myself to learn a lot.
"Don’t think you can’t do the job. All the training is provided, and you’re not expected to dive in from day one. The role can seem quite daunting at first, but the rewards are worth it; a fulfilling career as part of a unified team that delivers first-class support to our front line personnel."
DE&S are extremely proud to have a long-standing relationship with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP); with whom we continually work to provide Service leavers with excellent employment opportunities.
If you think you’d be the right fit for DE&S, and all of the above excites you, please head over to the CTP’s online job portal, RightJob to find our latest vacancies.