Speakers
Keynote address
Steve McCarthy is married to Odette, a Physics teacher and is father to twins Kieran and Tristan. They share their family home near Bath (UK) with Tala the Border Collie.
He took up his current role in UK Defence Equipment and Support as Director Ships Operations and Capability Integration in March 2023. He is responsible for the Portfolio Management of through life availability and capability integration of Royal Navy Ships, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships and UK Ministry of Defence Boats.
Steve joined the Royal Navy in 1990 and graduated as a Marine Engineer Officer in 1994 after training at sea and at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon. He read for a Master of Science degree in Marine Engineering at University College London in 1998, is a Chartered Marine Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
Steve is a graduate of the UK Defence Academy Advanced Command and Staff Course, a Member of the Association of Project Management and a Member of the Royal College of Defence Studies.
His seagoing appointments include: Deputy Marine Engineer Officer in the Type 23 Frigate HMS Marlborough, Senior Engineer in the Helicopter and Commando Carrier HMS Ocean, Commander E in the Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious and Staff Marine Engineer Officer to Flag Officer Sea Training (South).
His project leadership experience includes: Programme Manager for the Surface Ship Support Programme; Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers Chief Engineer; Capital Ships Support Team Leader; and Head of Naval Ships Support. Away from Engineering, Steve has worked on the staff of Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and as Deputy Chief of Staff in the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters Forward staff in Pakistan.
Steve was appointed Chief Naval Engineer Officer in October 2023, with responsibility to implement the Naval Engineering Strategy and to champion the Profession’s vital contribution to the Royal Navy’s operational success.