Derren Cooper BSc (Hons), IEng MIMechE, CMgr, AfCGI.

Experience

• 

  Royal Air Force (RAF)

  Jan 1992 - Apr 1997

  1st Line mechanic on 29(F) Sqn, Tornado F3. Responsible for carrying out flight servicing and minor rectification tasks for the Airframe trade manager. Deployed operations include exercises to N.America, Denmark, Spain and operational deployments to Italy in support of No-Fly Zone over former Yugoslavia. Airframe basic trade training.

  • Tornado 1st Line Mechanic

    Sept 1992 - Apr 1997

  • Basic Trade Training (Airframe Mechanic)

    Jan 1992 - Sept 1992
• 

  Royal Air Force (RAF)

  Mar 1998 - now

  I play a pivotal role as an engineering planner, covering 12 aviation assets, 60 staff and all associated ancillary equipment. I cover all logistical requirements of the front line engineers, sourcing materials, equipment, tooling and manpower in order to maintain operational output to an airworthiness standard. Involved in Business Continuity, Emergency Planning and Sustainment Criteria, which directly effects and drives operational performance within a MAOS 145 military aviation environment. I direct, lead and manage multi-faceted engineers, remaining accountable for the allocation of tasks, the H&S of each task and facilitating the necessary resources in order to ensure each tasks is carried out safely and effectively. Key Accountabilities:• Spearheaded continual improvement methodologies as engineering planning manager and central focal point on all team matters, identifying shortfalls and acting with skilled discernment to arising issues.• Implemented business continuity and emergency planning measures, responsible for ensuring its maintenance and associated monitoring of key business procedures in line with Key Performance Indicators. Regularly instigating testing procedures in order to assess reliability, capability and overall performance.• Versatile in the effective delivery of all duties, including the provision of deployment advice and offering guidance for strategic defence planning. Show less 2 tours as a SNCO (Engineering Manager), managing the Mechanical Trade desk. Managing a large dynamic team responsible for the rectification, preventative and scheduled maintenance of aircraft. In this role, it was vital that aircraft tooling was strictly controlled to ensure the elimination of aircraft incidents and flight risk. Accountability for circa 15 multi-faceted aircraft engineers, assessing the suitability to perform engineering activities against individual core competency data, coupled with ensuring engineers were nominated for relevant courses to maximise efficiency along with personal and professional development.It was also necessary by nature of my position and rank to scope for independent checks, covering zonal maintenance elements of each aircraft valued in excess of £25m each. This required a firm grip on the aircraft, its internal workings, both physically and theoretically; and a complete understanding for all maintenance procedures and their contents in order to complete various engineering activities. Key Skills and Responsibilities:• Local Error Management Coordinator for the department, dealing with day-to-day issues involving Flight Safety.• Ensure personnel are authorised to carry out maintenance tasks and defer maintenance activities in order to satisfy operational flying programmes.• Conduct Risk, COSHH and H&S Assessments for multiple workplaces and tasks to ensure a suitable environment was provided for all staff to conduct their duties, taking necessary steps to ensure compliance with necessary legislation and taking into account all H&S responsibilities associated with the Senior Engineering position.• Supervise where required the maintenance of Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Gear Boxes and Flying Controls including their deep strip and repair.• Spearhead the quality assurance process of all engineering and logistical requirements for the department. Show less As the engineering supervisor I was responsible for conducting all elements of scheduled, preventative and corrective maintenance on varying degrees of complex in-depth systems; stripping for access where needed. Tasked with servicing and calibrating specialist test and measurement equipment for use in and around an aviation environment, including Hydraulic Components (Wheels, Tyres, Brake Units, and Undercarriage Legs), along with Environmental Control System Components.Worked alongside industry partners to deliver planned output on time and within budget, ensuring Health & Safety standards, as well as professional engineering standards were maintained. Demonstrating the natural acumen to lead, motivate and manage teams of 6 engineering technicians. Supervising on a daily basis, in order to maintain and promote operational effectiveness, airworthiness, a continual improvement culture and safe working environment of all staff working under my remit. Key Skills and Responsibilities:• Manage and coordinate all activities for up to 6 staff, providing mentorship and coaching in an empathic manner to better develop each individual personally and professionally. Subsequently enhance performance and engineering knowledge.• Supervise the use of specialist tools including the full acceptance and pre-use checks required to practically carry out maintenance activities, overseeing strict control procedures in an aircraft environment.• Procured necessary resources from equipment sponsors and manufacturers to ensure customer needs were met within budget and deadlines.• Compiled engineering instructions and carried out publication amendments to ensure correct data was followed during the maintenance of engineering systems.• Represented the department at high-level meetings, having to present varying information in regards to KPIs and fault diagnosis data; acting as Subject Matter Expert where required. Show less Highly motivated Junior Technician, carrying out Primary Star, Minor and Minor Star scheduled maintenance of Jaguar GR3/T Strike Attack Aircraft. Role included fault diagnosis, component replacement, structural component replacement, minor airframe repairs,system functional testing( Primary and Secondary Flying Controls, Hydraulics, Oxygen, Environmental Conditioning, Undercarriage, Emergency Undercarriage).Mentor to new personnel, conducting on-the job-training in all aspects of Jaguar Maintenance, be it junior or senior ranks to myself. Worked with civilian industry partners employed within the RAF Engineering workforce. Took part in aircraft crash investigation alongside AAIB Team Leader. Show less

  • UK F-35 Operations Centre Engineering Operations Controller

    Oct 2021 - now

  • Lightning Force HQ iLOC

    Dec 2019 - Oct 2021

  • A4 Engineering Operations Controller

    Feb 2018 - Dec 2019

  • Aircraft Maintenance Manager/Rectification Controller

    Jul 2015 - Feb 2018

  • Mechanical Engineering Manager

    Aug 2008 - Jun 2015

  • 2nd Line Off Aircraft Component Bays JNCO

    Sept 2005 - Aug 2008

  • Mechanical NCO

    Feb 2003 - Sept 2005

  • Jaguar 2nd Line Mechanical Technician

    Mar 1998 - Feb 2003