771 Naval Air Squadron

Military experience

Joining the RN in 1991 as a Seaman Officer, Shepherd completed training at BRNC Dartmouth and in HMS York before joining HMS Sheffield in 1993 as OOW/SCO.

During this appointment, he was successful in his application to sub-specialize as a Pilot and began flying training in 1995. Gaining ‘Wings’ in 1997, he qualified as an ASW Sea King pilot and flew operationally in the Gulf and in Kosovo with 814 NAS until 1999 when he was selected for Lynx conversion at 702 NAS.

After training, Shepherd served in HMS Liverpool (Sierra Leone) and then HMS Northumberland (Gulf) as the Flight Pilot, then as Flt Cdr HMS Cardiff during the initial phases of Op Telic. This period culminating in the Flight being awarded the Sopwith Pup, Wrigley and Lynx Simulator trophies for 2002.

Initially taking on a short stint on the staff of FOST as SWO(AV) in 2003, Shepherd moved onto PWO training next, graduating as a PWO(CEW) in Sep 05 and joining HMS Chatham. As the Ops Officer, he enjoyed a combined APT(S)/APT(N) deployment operating in the Falklands and then supporting counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean.

In early 2007, he joined the staff of N6 within Naval Command HQ where he was responsible for interoperability of communications systems with key allied nations.

After only 5 months in post, Shepherd was selected at short notice to serve as the Military Assistant to the COS at MCC Northwood.A challenging position which he relished over the next 18 months.

From there, Shepherd was fortunate enough to return to aviation as the SP of 771 NAS between May 09 and Jun 11, responsible for a vast array of diverse aviation activities within this busy unit.

Selected for ACSC and Command of GSF next, he elected to follow the Command route, however this was curtailed when he was assigned to DNPS as the lead aircrew officer within a study to make recommendations as to the future manpower sustainability of the Fleet Air Arm. During this period, Shepherd was re-selected for Command of 771 NAS where he takes Command on 29 Mar 12.

He is married to a scientist and enthusiastic biology teacher and they have one daughter. Interests include frequent surges of fitness training in pursuit of half-marathon and other charity fundraising events, as well as providing support to his busy family in their many and diverse interests.