Former Chief Executive Officer of NATS, and prior to that Senior Vice President of the Air Systems Division for Thales and a member of the company’s Executive Committee. A Chartered Engineer, Richard holds a first-class honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Kingston University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from Kingston University in January 2008.

Richard chose Aerobility as NATS CEO Charity of the Year in 2012 and was instrumental in the corporate funding and employee fundraising which ultimately raised £150,000 for the charity, enabling the purchase of the world's first aircraft designed for disabled pilots. Richard continues to support and positively influence the charity.

Richard Deakin.
Photo courtesy of Unmanned Airspace.