Steve Bolton joined the Royal Navy following an engineering apprenticeship and short career as a Systems Engineer with British Aerospace PLC (now BAE Systems). He is currently serving in Navy Command HQ as Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures, responsible for overseeing the development of the Future Maritime Aviation vision, alongside his role as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the acquisition activities that will enable the future Fleet Air Arm.

Over the past 30+ yrs, Steve has accumulated 4600 flying hrs as a maritime helicopter pilot, spread across four main aircraft types (Sea King HAS5/6, Lynx HAS3/HMA8, Dolphin HH-65, Squirrel HT1) and seven squadrons (826 NAS, 819 NAS, 814 NAS, 702 NAS (Executive Officer), 815 NAS (Flt Cdr & Trg Officer), 705 NAS (Command), US Coast Guard Air Station Miami). He has deployed on operations around the world in a variety of warships, to include HM Ships Cumberland (T22), Invincible (CVS) and Edinburgh (T42), as well as numerous RFAs and USCG Cutters. A qualified Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Unit Warfare, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and Maritime Counter Terrorism pilot, he is also a Qualified Helicopter Instructor (CFS A2) and Instructor Pilot (USCG).

Steve has held command, leadership and management positions in a range of Defence tasks that include basic and operational flying training (and policy in Navy Command), military workforce planning (MoD), capability delivery (DES/22 Gp), and prior to his current assignment was a SRO and Programme Director in HQ Air Command, responsible for delivering the UK Military Flying Training System, Hawk Capability Sustainment, Aircrew Systems and Youth Aviation programmes. Operational short tours include Bosnia (UN Military Observer) and US Central Command (COS to 2* Senior British Military Advisor)

A graduate of ACSC 12 and alumnus of Kings College London and Said Business School (Oxford), he has an HNC in Mechanical Engineering, an MA in Defence Studies and is a graduate of the Major Programmes Leadership Academy. Married with two daughters, he cycles, rows and plays golf. He will shortly assume the duties as Chair of the Royal Navy Field Gun Executive Committee (Jun 23).