From Wing Commander to Defence and National Security Head of Cyber
Ian's Story
Ian says, "I served as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force for 36 years, working initially as an Air Defence Technician, followed by commissioning into the Communications Engineering Branch. I now work as Defence and National Security Head of Cyber for Fujitsu, determining the future requirements of the company with regards to delivery of a Cyber capability and resource management.
During my service and resettlement period I was able to gain a range of qualifications to support my entry into the civilian job market. These include a HND in Electronic Engineering and a Masters Degree in Defence Acquisition Management, along with Advanced Management and Achievement (AMAC), Programme and Project Management qualifications, Change Management and Finance.
The AMAC course proved particularly useful during my resettlement, providing me with the correct level of detail for discussions at interview.
As with many Service leavers, I found my current role with Fujitsu via networking, and encourage others to use as many informal social networking opportunities as possible. Prior to starting the role, I was able to complete a work attachment with Fujitsu whilst still serving in the RAF. This gave me a very useful insight into the company and provided a greater understanding of the requirements of the role before formally starting.
I didn’t face any obstacles when settling in, and found the transition process easy thanks to the range of experience I gained during my RAF career. Service leavers have strong skills in planning, communication, team work and adaptability, along with a wealth of technical specialisations, so are extremely well placed for a new career with Fujitsu.”