Testimonials |
Resident Agent in Charge Doug Einsel – NCIS |
| "I had the pleasure of working with Dave, when both of us were posted in Dubai, UAE. Dave led the way to interoperability between UKMTO and the NCIS office in the UAE. His pursuit of information to ensure an exchange of information and resources for all parties who had equities in matters of interest (allies/coalition) was remarkable. His networking within the military, private and commercial sectors opened doors for all concerned, not solely to benefit UKMTO. He truly understands the concept of partnership and the value of networking and information sharing. Dave is a highly regarded professional and friend." |
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Mick Whitehouse – Dryad Maritime Operations Manager |
"David is an experienced navigator and in the time that I worked in close liaison with him he was OIC of the UKMTO based in Dubai. He was at the forefront in developing various anti piracy procedures and routines for worldwide commercial shipping fleets which are employed on vessels to this day. He was also pivotal in the development of the two transit routes that have run through the Gulf of Aden; the IRTC is still utilsed by the numerous vessels that transit the region each day.
He and his team provided an invaluable 24 hour manned anti piracy service monitoring the numerous vessels transiting throughout the Red sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf Of Oman, Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Through close dialogue with shipping companies, masters and other interested parties he was able to build up a picture of vulnerable shipping in these waters and their approaches. Close work with military vessels patrolling the shipping routes and The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) enabled rapid responses to prevent and deter attacks and help safeguard merchant shipping in these regions.
His extensive knowledge and proven practical concepts have aided many vessels in thwarting attacks within these areas. David is a true professional whose knowledge of counter-piracy operations is second to none. It was a pleasure to work with David and his team over this period and I wish him all the best for the future." |
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Andreas Smith – BP |
"I had regular contact with David during his days as OIC UKMTO. During this time he always made the time to talk and offer good sound advice and where sensitivities / Military restrictions allowed share useful information. His assessments of the piracy situation in the GoA where well thought through and invariably proved accurate which in turn helped me to carry out my role more effectively. I have a great deal of respect for David."
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Phil Collins – UK's Serious Organised Crimes Agency (SOCA) |
| "I knew Dave as the commanding officer of the UKMTO for over 18 months. During that period I had almost daily contact with him in his role as one of the Royal Navy maritime anti piracy experts. I witnessed on more than one occasion how Dave with a very calm approach advised ship's captains of various nations, on how to implement anti boarding tactics, while their vessels were under attack from Somali pirates off the east coast of Africa. On many occasions I know that his on the spot expert advice resulted in a successful repulse of the pirate attacks. I know him to be a man of the highest integrity and very experienced in the world of maritime security." |
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Cdre Paul Stone RN(Ret) – Svitzer Company Security Officer |
| "David has an excellent professional knowledge of maritime security, including all aspects of piracy and anti-piracy countermeasures. He is a dedicated manager with the ability to get things done and relates well to other people. He also has excellent presentational skills." |
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Hans Tino Hansen – Risk Intelligence |
| "I have had the pleasure of working with Dave during the period 2007 to 2009 when he was commander of UKMTO. With due respect to past and present commanders, his and his deputy Keith Brown's work was truly second-to-none. Being in command of UKMTO and efficiently coordinating anti-piracy operations and monitoring hijacked vessels during a time when piracy off the Horn of Africa literally exploded was a magnificent achievement in itself. The work increased safety in the area in a time when the risk was increasing. This was achieved with limited resources and should be compared to today's large international effort. I can highly recommend Dave as both an officer, one of the few real hands-on specialists on Somali piracy, an expert of maritime security and a cooperation partner of high integrity and professional status." |
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Lt Col Steve Duffy – UAE Coastguard |
| "I worked with Dave during his time in UAE as the UKMTO and consider him a consummate professional in the maritime security field. His organisation and management of the UKMTO was first-class and this led to substantial improvement in safety and operating efficiency for civilian and military organisations plying their trade in and around the Arabian Gulf region. He was instrumental in establishing the current security measures in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin which has led to safeguarding many thousands of ships that transit those hostile waters. Dave approached these challenging tasks in a mature, balanced manner and this, coupled with his conscientious and personable manner meant that he achieved a great deal in a short time frame, despite many challenges. It was a pleasure to work with him." |
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