Keynote Speaker


Rear Admiral C A Johnstone-Burt OBE MA, 

Commander, Joint Helicopter Command

 

“I am delighted that the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) are working together to arrange this important conference.  The debate about the use of battlefield helicopters on current operations and their future role has arguably never been more important: indeed, it has become all the more significant since the announcement of a Defence Review to be held in 2010.  This conference will seek to inform that review through our discussions on the day and the working papers that will flow from it.  I hope that you are able to join me, key representatives from the military, academic, industrial and policy components of the UK helicopter community and some of our key allies for what promises to be a timely and crucial forum for coming together, reflection, discussion and constructive debate.”

 

 

Biography:

Tony Johnstone-Burt’s first Ship was HMS ACTIVE in which he served during the Falklands War.  He sub-specialised in aviation as a pilot flying Gazelles, Sea Kings and Lynx helicopters from Carriers, Frigates and Destroyers, before specialising further as a Principal Warfare Officer in Anti-Submarine Warfare.  He served in several Frigates before becoming the Second-in-Command of HMS SCYLLA in 1990 and conducting operations in the Gulf.

His operational commands at sea include HMS BRAVE, conducting counter-drugs operations in the Caribbean, HMS MONTROSE as the Captain of the Sixth Frigate Squadron comprising eight Type 23 Frigates and conducting operations in support of the UK and UN forces in Sierra Leone, and command of the Amphibious Helicopter Carrier HMS OCEAN.  During this time the ship validated the use of the Bowman communications system, operated the full range of battlefield and support helicopters, including the Apache, and deployed all three Royal Marine Commandos and UK Special Forces as embarked Landing Forces.

Appointed to the Order of the British Empire in 1997, his staff appointments ashore include the US Naval War College in Rhode Island as the UK Strategic Research Fellow where he completed an MA in International Relations, and the Higher Command and Staff Course at Bracknell.  As a Captain in the Ministry of Defence during the Strategic Defence Review, he was responsible for the current and future aircraft and equipment of the Fleet Air Arm, which included making a case for the future Aircraft Carrier and the Joint Strike Fighter.  He then became the Deputy Director of Equipment Capability in the Deep Strike area and was responsible for the Typhoon, the Future Offensive Air System, and the Joint Force Harrier. 

As a Commodore he commanded Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and later became the Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Joint Helicopter Command at Wilton.  Promoted to Flag rank in 2006 and posted to Scotland, he has just completed an appointment as Flag Officer Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Flag Officer Reserves, where he was responsible for all regional representation for the RN, the Maritime Reserves and Cadets, Recruiting, and regional media and communications.

Tony Johnstone-Burt was educated at Wellington College and Durham University where he met his wife Rachel.  They have three sons, two daughters and live on Salisbury Plain with their two black Labradors.  He is President of the RN and RM Sport Parachute Association, a Younger Brother of Trinity House and a Freeman of the City of London.  As a broken rugby player, he is a Vice President of the Royal Navy Rugby Union, and also enjoys all sports, keeping fit and reading.



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