Commander STEPHEN TAYLOR joined the Royal Navy in 2004 and following 4 years’ service in HM Submarines he saw the light and joined the Surface Flotilla as Assistant Marine Engineer Officer on HMS IRON DUKE.  Following periods as the Deputy Marine Engineer Officer in HMS LANCASTER and HMS NORTHUMBERLAND, undertaking Ant-Piracy and Counter Narcotics operations he joined the Type 23 Frigate Class Management Cell in Devonport.  In this Role he managed the emergency docking of HMS MONMOUTH and oversaw the Support Period Docking of HMS NORTHUMBERLAND.  Following this period ashore he returned to sea as head of the Engineering Department in HMS CLYDE, the Falkland Islands Patrol Ship and was subsequently selected to be the Squadron Engineer Officer for the Offshore Patrol Squadron, including time as Marine Engineer Officer in HMS SEVERN undertaking duties supporting British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.  Promoting from this role he spent time as both the T23 Gas Turbine Allocator and subsequently as T23 Through Life Manager before returning to Sea as Marine Engineer Officer in HMS ST ALBANS.  On returning from sea he spent a brief period at Fleet Operational Sea Training and was the appointed as the Deputy Platform Chief Engineer for T23 Frigates.  Following this appointment he undertook a broadening appointment as Defence Engagement Advisor for the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain.  On return he was promoted to Commander and took up the new role of Type 26 Platform Chief Engineer.  An operationally focussed engineer TAYLOR is passionate about ensuring the platforms in his care are Safe to Operate and has lead a number of initiatives to improve the understanding of cumulative risk held due to operational exigencies.  Currently studying for a PhD at the University of Cranfield and with a young family, in what little spare time he has left he is a keen runner and is learning to dance Charleston, Lindy Hop and Balboa with varying degrees of success.