Dr D W Williams BSc PhD CEng CPhys FIMarEST FInstP FRAeS

Dr David Wynford Williams (Wyn) was born in Ammanford, Wales , in 1946. Following education at the Amman ValleyGrammar School he gained a BSc and PhD in Physics at the University of Wales, Swansea. He is a Fellow of The Instituteof Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, The Institute of Physics and of The Royal Aeronautical Society.

He commenced his career in the Ministry of Defence in 1971 at the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, near Portsmouth. His research work included infra-red and electro-optic countermeasures and electronic warfare systems. In 1981, he joined the Royal Navy staff at the British Embassy in Washington DC to be responsible for scientific exchanges between the UK and the USA in all areas of Above Water Warfare. He then became the Assistant Chief of Staff (Operational Analysis) to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet at Northwood to manage the analysis of all the RN’s operations and exercises. In 1987, he took over management of the UK’s guided Weapon Test Ranges, headquartered at Aberporth on Cardigan Bay.

On promotion to the Senior Civil Service in 1991, he became Chief Superintendent of the Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment at Boscombe Down, responsible for testing all UK military aircraft and airborne systems. He was appointed Director of Assessment & Evaluation in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), covering aircraft and air systems at Boscombe Down and gas turbine engines at Pyestock.

In 1996 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, and in 1997 joined DERA Sea Systems Sector (covering all research in the RN) – as Operations Director then Technical Director, then on promotion as Sector Director. He was the UK’s Scientific Representative to NATO’s Undersea Research Centre at La Spezia, Italy and a member of the UK’s Foresight Marine Panel.

In January 2001 he was further promoted and appointed Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and UK National Hydrographer. The UKHO produces a global series of charts and publications for merchant marine and military use, which has captured 70% of the world’s market share. Dr Williams is also Chief Executive of Admiralty Holdings Ltd (a government-owned company which he created as the commercial outlet for the UKHO), and Chairman of Admiralty Coastal Surveys AB, a joint venture company he created with Swedish and Norwegian partners, and is soon to take up Chairmanship of a German maritime software company.

Wyn is married to Dilys, who is an Education Consultant. They have a son (Aled, a solicitor) and a daughter ( Sian, a doctor). His hobbies are golf, rugby and music.

His local community activities have included: governorship (including chairmanship) of several secondary school and Further Education colleges; membership of a Training & Enterprise Council steering committee; chairman of Portsmouth Choral Society, treasurer and membership of several Parochial Church Councils.