About Ascent

Tim became Ascent Managing Director in November 2018. He has overall responsibility for the delivery of all Ascent elements and utilising the most effective value for money solution.

Tim joined us from Lockheed Martin where he was the Business Development Director for Rotary and Mission Systems. He enjoyed 16 years with the RAF, involved in UK operations on the Tornado F3 and exchange operations on the F-16 with the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force of Oman. Read more about Tim Tim James here

Lee joined Ascent in April 2020 as Finance Director, moving from Cavendish Nuclear Limited. He has overall responsibility for the Finance and Governance elements of the business.

Lee brings extensive experience in project, commercial, and business development activity having spent 15 years in senior project finance and Finance Director roles in the nuclear sector for both Babcock International and VT Group.

Andy became Ascent’s Commercial Director in October 2014 and is responsible for delivering the company’s strategic targets, with specific responsibility for all commercial and legal aspects of the business.

Andy spent 27 years at the MOD and has experience of air traffic control and communications systems, flight simulation and armoured vehicle training systems, airship flight trials, and infrastructure projects.

Hayley has been with Ascent almost since its inception and has overall responsibility for delivering the HR and people and culture elements of our business. She also heads up and leads the Partnering agenda across UKMFTS.

Hayley has seen Ascent grow through the years. She was formerly Head of HR for VT Land and RAC Software Solutions. Read more about Hayley here

Russ was appointed as Ascent’s Operations Director in June 2024 – moving across from his former position as our Support and Services Director. Russ joined Ascent in 2022, after 20 years in the aerospace industry.

His role sees him lead teams across our UK sites, working closely with our General Managers as well as our Bristol Training Hub.

Steve is responsible for the successful delivery and integration of all training programmes within Ascent. This role encompasses managing the design, construction and delivery of all the enablers to allow Ascent to bring into service its training delivery operations.

Stephen initially joined Ascent in 2008 and spent four years as Rotary Wing Project Manager. He then worked on project management and engineering consultancy assignments with Atkins, returning to Ascent in 2016. He has worked on high profile programmes in the defence environment and on commercial aerospace programmes.

Mark joined the team in September 2024 as our interim Ascent Programmes Director from Lockheed Martin, where he has worked for 16 years. He has a wealth of programme management experience in a variety of programme roles.

Martyn became Head of Support & Services in December 2024. He was previously Support & Services Manager at RAF Shawbury and joined Ascent in April 2023 from Collins Aerospace.

Martyn has spent 20 years working in aviation, beginning his career in the Civil Service, working for the MOD in various roles, including aircraft disposal. Read more about Martyn here

Mark became Ascent’s Head of Business Development in May 2023. He is an experienced business leader in the UK and international defence & aviation sector, having previously worked for AceHawk Aerospace, Draken International and NATO. He enjoyed a 17 year career with the RAF.

Michael acts as Company Secretary for all 10 companies within the Ascent group and supports the Board of Directors in discharging their corporate governance responsibilities for Ascent. Michael became Company Secretary in May 2024, but has been with Ascent for many years and is our Senior Commercial Manager.

Caron joined Ascent in December 2023 and is responsible for internal and external communications and events management. She is a former BBC journalist.

John is General Manager at Ascent’s RNAS Culdrose site.

Simon has been General Manager at Ascent’s RAF Shawbury site since 2022. Before joining Ascent, Simon spent 24 years in the aviation industry, starting his journey in the Royal Navy flying Sea King HC4 and Lynx Mk 3/8, prior to spending two years in the commercial aviation sector.

He returned to RAF Shawbury in an instructional role with Cobham, before joining Ascent as part of the fielding team in 2017, in support of the training system introduction. He was subsequently appointed as the Deputy Chief Pilot during the transition of the project from Programmes to Operations.

Andy is General Manager at Ascent’s RAF Valley site, joining the team in 2024. Over the past 40 years, he has worked in various operations, supply chain, logistics, procurement and manufacturing leadership roles, across a diverse range of sectors. Read more about Andy here.

Darren joined Ascent in 2017 and has been the General Manager at RAF Cranwell since 2020, where he is accountable for the delivery of all UKMFTS training being delivered from RAF Cranwell and RAF Barkston Heath.

Prior to joining Ascent, Darren spent 24 years in the Royal Air Force, where he flew the Tornado GR4. Darren has a wealth of training management and flying instructional experience spanning various aircraft types, from winch launch gliders through to front line fast jets.