New CO Jo takes over at the helm of HMS Sultan
HMS Sultan has welcomed new Commanding Officer Captain Jo Deakin to the home of Royal Navy Marine and Air Engineering.
The Gosport base is home to the Defence College of Technical Training’s Defence School of Marine Engineering (DSMarE) and the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School (RNAESS), part of the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE).
In addition, several other units reside within the site boundaries, they include: Defence Business Services (DBS), the Nuclear Faculty of the Royal Navy, Captain Naval Recruiting teams, AE Career Management Team and the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB).
On joining, Capt Deakin OBE said: “There is no greater privilege for me than to be returning to the place where my naval engineer career began to assume of Command of HMS Sultan and the Defence School of Marine Engineering.
“This is an incredibly exciting era to be an engineer in the Royal Navy – new ships, new submarines and new aircraft. HMS Sultan has a long-standing reputation as a world class centre of marine and air engineering. I look forward to leading the magnificent team at HMS Sultan and, by embracing innovation and diversity, deliver training fit for modern engineering technicians and engineer officers.
“Building on the great work of my predecessor, I will strive to ensure that HMS Sultan remains an exceptional place to work and continues to be a vibrant part of the local community.
As an Engineering Officer, Capt Deakin is no stranger to HMS Sultan and has served within RNAESS and DCTT. She has undertaken diverse roles within the Air Engineer sphere including as the Principal Aircraft Engineer Joint Aviation Group (Afghanistan), supporting ship aviation trials and as the Engineering Authority for helicopter engines.
As Cdr Air Engineering at RNAS Yeovilton she was responsible for nine aircraft types and delivered Phase 2B and Phase 3 engineering training. She was the Fleet Air Arm’s Chief Aircraft Engineer for two-and-a-half years and has just completed the Royal College of Defence Studies course.
Capt Deakin assumes command from Commodore John Voyce OBE who is now Naval Base Commander, HMNB Portsmouth.
PICTURED: Commodore John Voyce with his replacement at HMS Sultan Captain Jo Deakin. Picture, PO Photographer Pepe Hogan
