Mr Paul Burke CBE

On graduating from Liverpool University with a BA(Hons) in Pure Mathematics Paul joined the Royal Navy (RN) in 1986, and qualified as a submariner in 1988, then served as a warfare officer in SSNs, a diesel submarine and SSBNs. On successful completion of the submarine command course (‘Perisher’) in 1997 he was appointed as the Executive Officer of a Trident submarine (SSBN) and in 2000 was chosen to be a command and warfare training officer for the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation, which included training international partner submarine crews. Promoted in 2002 he took command of HMS SPLENDID (SSN) and was awarded an OBE for operations in the Gulf War, immediately followed by becoming the commanding officer of HMS VIGILANT (SSBN), after which he was selected to be ‘Teacher’ of the Submarine Command Course (‘Perisher’). 

His first shore posting was in 2006 to MOD Main Building, London, in the Directorate of Navy Resources and Plans, followed by a combined services appointment in Joint Force Headquarters, and a short tour in Afghanistan. In 2010 he was assigned to US Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska for three years, then returned to London in 2013 as Assistant Head of Operational Policy in the Naval Staff.

On promotion to Commodore in January 2017 he became Deputy Director of Planning in the Defence Nuclear Organisation, responsible for support, policy and military advice to the MOD and Cabinet Office. During this appointment he completed the Institute of Directors certificate in Company Direction and the Advanced Management Achievement Course at the Manchester Business School. He was awarded a CBE in June 2019 and retired from the RN in November 2019

He joined BMT as the Submarines Business Development Manager in July 2020.