A Career in Defence, National Security & Aerospace: The Journey of Dr. Llyr Jones

Dr. Llyr Jones has carved a remarkable career path in the defence, national security, and aerospace sectors. His journey is a testament to the power of international experience, strategic growth, and continuous learning.

I sat down with Dr Jones to talk about his career and discussed the following topics:

• His impressive background
• The defining moment in his career
• Advice for aspiring leaders
• Trends in defence technology.

A Career Spanning Continents and Industries

Dr. Jones has dedicated his entire career to the defence, national security, and aerospace sectors.

His roles have consistently involved engaging with customers, industrial partners, and other stakeholders, focusing on business growth and future positioning. This growth has been achieved both organically, through winning major contracts and increasing industrial capacity, and inorganically, through acquisitions and joint ventures.

His career has a strong international component, having conducted business on six continents and lived and worked in Japan and France. Dr. Jones has worked with a variety of organisations, including a FTSE 100-listed prime contractor, a CAC 40-listed high technology group, two government-industry partnerships, and currently, Chemring, a FTSE 250 listed defence and national security company.

A Pivotal Moment in Japan

A defining moment in Dr. Jones’s career was his secondment to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) in Japan in 1992.

Working at MELCO’s Kamakura Works, he gained invaluable business insights and new perspectives. “The total immersion in a different culture and society enabled me to learn first-hand that there is always more than one way to do just about anything,” he recalls.

This experience broadened his business awareness and taught him the importance of cultural immersion. “I’m sure that having that international experience early on in my career opened-up a lot of opportunities for me subsequently,” he adds.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Dr. Jones emphasises the importance of immersing oneself in their field, reading widely, and networking to gain diverse perspectives. “Read widely, network widely to get as many different perspectives and inputs around an issue as you can, and make sure that you are keeping on learning,” he advises.

He also highlights the significance of soft skills while maintaining a focus on delivery. “The soft skills are very important, but never lose sight of the delivery,” he notes.

Finally, he encourages everyone accept new opportunities when presented. He states ‘you will almost certainly get something out of it.’

Exciting Trends in Defence Technology

Dr. Jones is particularly excited about the advancements in technologies like hypersonics, autonomy, and quantum sensors. “The pace of advancement in technologies like hypersonics, autonomy, and quantum sensors is quite profound,” he says.

These emerging technologies have the potential to revolutionise many aspects of defence, helping customers achieve their mission goals.

For more information about the work we do in our Manufacturing and Engineering Practice, please contact Simon Betts.