Mark Byrne

Home – 01978 752341 Mobile – 07974794845

E-mail – markjbyrne621@hotmail.com

Profile:

An incredibly hardworking, knowledgeable and professional Communications Engineer with over 19 years experience in the Royal Air Force; finishing his career planning and delivering key strategic communications solutions on a variety of platforms across the world. Through an extensive and broad career as a professional engineer, a wealth of leadership overseeing multiple teams, project management and IT service management experience has been proven in a variety of environments, both in the UK and on operations overseas.

Such a breadth of experience has highlighted an exceptionally high standard of engineering standards and configuration control across a plethora of Defence establishments. A motivated and output-focused individual who displays an exceptional team ethic with a proven aptitude for staff morale and development. Continuously drives to develop innovative solutions and promote better practise with a determination to improve efficiency. DV and SC cleared with experience of utilising skilful project management to introduce numerous capabilities into operational Service in constrained and challenging environments. Proven to be a robust and decisive leader, able to utilise technical understanding and excellent interpersonal skills to lead teams and deliver results. Dedicated, reliable and focused with effective written and verbal communications who is able to operate effectively as a Senior Manager within a high tempo organisation. Proactive and self-motivated, thriving on challenges and relishes opportunities to develop.

Key Skills:

Project Management

Able to manage projects effectively throughout the lifecycle and APMP qualified.

IT Service & Engineering Management

Able to manage services throughout the ITIL lifecycle. Able to translate complex engineering activity into business outputs whilst driving efficiencies.

Stakeholder Management

Experience of managing a diverse range of key stakeholders.

Effective Communications

Able to deliver effective, multi-platform communications (oral, written & IT) to suit the need of the audience.

Leadership & Management

Experience of leading and managing multiple teams within numerous environments to ensure the completion of tasks whilst ensuring team members’ morale, welfare and personal development aspirations are valued and maintained.

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Mar 15 – Present day – Strategic Capability Development – Operational Plans & Interoperability

Demonstrated the ability to affect the operational effectiveness of Communications Information Systems (CIS) equipment by innovating technical solutions to in-service capabilities to fulfil Lessons Identified (LIs) from operational environments and exercises. Responsible for the requirements capture of the users, project managing the technical trials and drafting and publishing the trial report to all key stakeholders across Defence; reports that assisted in driving future equipment requirements. The RAF lead for UK-FR interoperability, a strategic communications plan was developed in conjunction with key Maritime and Land counterparts to prepare this bi-lateral arrangement for future conflicts.Able to effectively manage a range of stakeholders and adept at problem resolution. Able to learn quickly, successfully manage and escalate risk and exploit opportunity. Credible soft skills include the facilitation of stakeholder meetings, delivering presentations and briefing Senior Officers. Portfolio included Satellite Communications, deployed networks and Information Service capabilities for a broad range of users.

Apr 14 – Oct 14 Communications Infrastructure Engineer

Lead engineer responsible for managing the withdrawal of CIS from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan to assist 140 (circa 8,000 personnel) tri-Service units as the drawdown of operations commenced. The role included configuration control of the Network Equipment Rooms (NERs) to ensure the integrity of combat operations, planning the CIS footprint as the closure of Bastion approached in a Senior Planning role; a role that included briefing the entire camp on the proposals. Project management and support of key combat operations whilst the drawdown continued such as the deployment of the Watchkeeper UAV and Coalition Targetting Cell (CTC) which both had large CIS footprints. This included gathering the requirements of the users, installing the core fibre infrastructure, undertaking ‘siting boards’ to ascertain frequency clearance and providing and installing office IT infrastructure. Both of the above projects included briefings to senior UK military officers given the sensitive nature of the projects.

Jul 12 – Apr - 14 Senior Communications Project Manager

Led a team of 25 personnel as a senior manager in the project management of innovative training solutions to assist the training audience in their studies. Accountable for the project-management of a £1.6 million wireless Training LAN, on schedule, to revolutionise Defence training whilst successfully managing resources, users and external agencies to maximum effect. Completed by undertaking the following work-strands:

Captured the training requirements of the organisation before engineering a bespoke solution to fulfil the requirements.

Produced a business case which formed the basis for civilian companies to bid for the project whilst managing a £2 million budget for the project.

Maintained a high standard of engineering standards to ensure compliance with Defence security and installation policy.

Organised and led meetings with the contractor and the school hierarchy to brief on project timelines, expectations and updates using a mixture of IT and verbal methods of delivery.

Solution for £1.6 million training network set the precedent as the preferred method for training delivery.

Highlighted the key risks and issues to senior management and external agencies through the compilation of a project risk register.

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Liaised with the user community during the testing phase to ensure the requirements for the project were being met prior to contract handover whilst communicating to contractors any changes that were required.

Maintained the station’s navigational training aids and in accordance with the Delivery Team standards and policy whilst upholding the highest engineering standards possible to ensure the trainees were instilled with the best possible ethos and carry it forward into their careers. Responsible for the service management of all IT assets including creating a support policy to include anti-virus updates, Operating System (OS) patch updates and user account management.

Jan 11 – Jul 12 – Training Support IT Senior Manager

Employed as a senior manager in the delivery of IT services to the Central Air Traffic Control School (CATCS) at RAF Shawbury. This role involved the maintenance of simulated air traffic control equipment to ensure operationally-critical training was undertaken. This role involved the project management of new simulators into service; capturing user requirements, managing factory and site testing and further management of a £1 million budget to ensure the fleet of training aids was maintained. Responsible for a team of 6 this cutting edge technology was delivered by contractors, therefore excellent inter-personal skills were required with project partners to ensure the successful delivery of the capabilities.

Sep 08 – Oct 10 – Officer & Engineer Officer training

Jun 97 – Sep 08

Prior to commissioning as an Communications Engineer Officer, I was employed for 11 years as a communications technician working on a diverse range of equipment such as airfield navigation aids, air defence long-range radar, tactical data-link systems and numerous IT services in defence of the UK both at home and overseas. Deployed to the Falkland Islands (6 months) and Iraq (10 months) I led and managed numerous teams successfully to provide key support to numerous operations.

Education & Qualifications:

FD Engineering Management - University of Lincoln - Awarded 2008

Association for Project Managers Professional APMP - Awarded 2012

ITIL V3 Foundation - Awarded 2014

Senior Leadership Quality Assurance Management – Awarded 2014

Management & Leadership Lvl 5

FD Sport & Exercise Sciences – Awarded 2015

Mountain Leader Trainer (MLT) – Awarded 2007

Football Association Level 1&2 Qualified Coach – Awarded 2006.

Awards:

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) 22 Training Group Team Commendation (Central Air Traffic Control School, RAF Shawbury) – Awarded 2012

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) 22 Training Group Team Commendation (No 1 Radio School, Royal Air Force Cosford) – Awarded 2014

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Air Officer Commanding (AOC) 22 Training Group Meritorious Service Award (No 1 Radio School, Royal Air Force Cosford) – Awarded 2014

Currently working towards Chartered Managers Institute (CMI) status and Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

Working to complete my BSc in Sport & Exercise Sciences in July 2016.

Interests / hobbies

I am a very keen and enthusiastic runner who runs for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Wrexham Athletics Club and have completed 7 marathons to date raising £1,700 for charity, the quickest being completed in 2hr 49 mins. I like to play golf with my son and am also a very keen hill-walker having undertaken expeditions in Switzerland and Germany whilst also completing the 3 Peaks Challenge where I raised an additional £2,000 for the local Primary School, of which I am a School Governor. I spend weekends with my family in the caravan and am a World War 2 historical enthusiast having led 2 separate groups on battlefield tours of Normandy.

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