WG CDR John Thomson

Senior British Officer

Wing Commander John Thomson was born in Surrey in 1973 and spent his formative years in Glasgow. He attended higher education at the University of Glasgow where he attained his degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Upon graduating, he worked in the retail sector for 12 months prior to joining the military and commencing his Initial Officer training at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in August 1995.

Upon graduating from the College, he commenced Navigator training at Royal Air Force Cranwell, Linton-on-Ouse and Topcliffe and, on successful completion of the course, was awarded a pass with distinction. Following Navigator training he was posted to his first operational unit in 1998, CXX Squadron at RAF Kinloss, flying the Nimrod Maritime Patrol aircraft. In an initial appointment spanning 5 years, he quickly progressed from the junior Navigator to the senior Navigator on the crew and ultimately as a Crew and Mission Commander. Within weeks of arrival on Squadron, he was involved in numerous live Anti-Submarine Warfare operations in the North Atlantic helping to safeguard UK and US strategic interests, a theme that continued throughout his 5 years on the Squadron. During this time, he was part of the Fincastle Trophy winning crew, an international competition for maritime patrol aircraft testing their Anti-Submarine Warfare skills. Further global operations included multiple deployments to the Caribbean to work with the US Joint Inter-Agency Task Force East and, OPs HERRICK and TELIC. On completion of his first Squadron tour, he was appointed to the Nimrod Standardization and Training Unit and, having proved himself in role, was promoted in July 2005. On appointment to Squadron Leader, he assumed the role as Staff Office Maritime Patrol Aircraft within the then Royal Navy Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff (now JTEPS) planning, integrating and executing Maritime Patrol Aircraft within the Joint Warrior series of exercises, focusing on ASW operations. A further Front-Line appointment followed as the XO on CXX Squadron and on completion, was appointed within the J3 Division at the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood.

Moving back within specialization, he moved to then Theater ASW Command, Norfolk, VA (CTG 84.2) as a Battle Watch Captain overseeing multiple ASW exercises and a major live operation before returning to the UK to take up the appointment of OC Maritime Air Operations Centre as part of the UKs CTF 320. His five-year tour saw multiple ASW operations in the North Atlantic where, during his tenure, received multiple Team Commendations from the Air Officer Commanding No 11 Group, RAF.

On promotion, he re-joined the Permanent Joint Headquarters within the J5 department and has been responsible for the UK’s contribution to Operation Inherent Resolve and wider Middle Eastern operations. He leaves the headquarters to take up his new appointment as the Senior British Officer at the Theater Undersea Surveillance Command Atlantic.