Rear Admiral (RETD) Paul Thomas

CB, FREng, FCGI, BSc(Eng), MSc, CEng, FIMechE, Hon FNucI

Educated at Haileybury, Paul joined the Royal Navy in 1963. Following initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and in HM Ships, he joined the Royal Naval Engineering College in 1965. Gaining a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and subsequently an MSc in Nuclear Science and Technology, he went on to submarine training. Submarine appointments in HMS/Ms OCELOT, ORACL, RENOWN & REVENGE followed. Shore appointments included Assistant Director Reactor Safety, Superintendent VULCAN Naval Reactor Test Establishment Dounreay, Chairman Naval Nuclear Technical Safety Panel, Director Nuclear Propulsion, Captain Royal Naval Engineering College and Chief Strategic Systems Executive.

He retired from the Royal Navy in 1998 joining AEA Technology, Nuclear Engineering where he held the positions of Director Engineering Projects and Director Strategic Development. He moved to British Nuclear Fuels plc in 2001 as Director Environment, Health, Safety and Quality. In 2005 he joined the Board of RSSB Ltd as a non-executive Director becoming Chairman in 2008. He is Chairman of The Hazards Forum and the Process Safety Forum.

He was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1980 and the US Legion of Merit in 1998. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1998. His interests include cycling, ballooning, walking and ‘anything mechanical’.

Delivered the Allan St. John Holt lecture in 2011.