Cardiff - HMS Cambria

Military experience

He joined the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS Eaglet in 1983 as a Weapons Engineering Officer. After transferring to HMS Sherwood a year later, Simon completed his junior officer training. His initial sea training was aboard HMS Bildeston, a Ton Class Minehunter. A civilian change of employment bought him to Bristol and HMS Flying Fox in 1986. He undertook sea training in the Fleet Minesweepers Waveney, Carron, Dovey and Spey, gaining his Sea Tender Weapon Engineering Charge Certificate in June 1992. Within the unit, Simon held the positions of Weapons Engineering Divisional Officer, Weapons Engineering Training Officer and Damage Control Officer.

After the Options for Change Defence Review in 1994, Simon transferred to the Allied Worldwide Navigation Information System (AWNIS ) specialisation. This change meant that he needed to attend a series of Headquarters exercises and training courses. During September 2002, Simon formally qualified as an AWNIS Staff Officer and has served with the maritime battle staffs of Commander UK Maritime Force and Commander Spanish Maritime Forces, as well as MCC Northwood.
In April 2008, Simon was appointed the first RNR Executive Officer of HMS Flying Fox. He was promoted out of unit to assume command of HMS Cambria in September 2008.
In the civilian world, Simon works in high technology as a Design Engineer in the field of microelectronics. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He also has a Master of Business Administration from the Open University.

Simon Cottam is married to Alison and lives in South Gloucestershire with his twin sons and two grown-up stepchildren.