"Experience does not err."
Leonardo da Vinci
(Italian artist, scientist and engineer)

Tornado F3 image

Meet the Team

Chaz Counter – Principal Consultant ISTAR Chaz Counter photo
Chaz Counter joined the RAF at 16 and completed a comprehensive apprenticeship through 3 operational tours before commissioning as a Navigator in 1987. Post flying training he was posted to the Nimrod MR2 in, predominantly but not exclusively, the Maritime Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) role. He gained Combat Ready Advanced status, commanded Combat Ready crews and became the Sqn Weapons Training Officer and a Maritime Air Operations Instructor. Involved in numerous operations, he deployed widely in both hemispheres including support of NATO operations in the Balkans and coalition operations in the Middle East. In 1995 he was became a Central Flying School Air Instructor employed on the Nimrod MR2 Operational Conversion Unit. Promoted to Squadron Leader in 1997 he commanded the Air Plans Sqn at RAF Kinloss. He executed the planning, deployment, support and recovery of MR2 operations worldwide alongside restructuring resilience plans for post crash and major incidents for the whole of the UK’s Highland region. Returning to operational flying in 1999 as a CXX Squadron Flight Commander, he regained his advanced operating status alongside being the programme manager for the development of strategic and tactical employment of the MR2 in the post Strategic Defence Review environment including the review, re-write and publication of MR2 employment literature.

Following a Joint Operations Planning Course, he was posted to the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) in Nov 2001 as a (J3) Operations Desk Officer initially employed in coordinating the UK’s part in Security Sector reform operations in Bosnia. During the build up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 he was the coordinator for the integration of all RAF elements into the Joint deployment plans for the coalition force. On promotion to Wing Commander in May 2003 he became PJHQ’s Senior British Representative within the UK/US/Pakistani Tactical Air Management Cell based in Islamabad. Commanding a 14 strong mixed British, US and Pakistani team his responsibilities included integrating Pakistan’s Military and Civil authorities with all aspects of coalition air/ground operations through and alongside the Pakistan/Afghanistan border area and incorporation of the plans with the Al Udeid CAOC. He returned to PJHQ in Oct 2003 for a short tour as Chief of Staff (J7) Joint Warfare Training Centre where he was instrumental in the development and delivery of the UK’s first fully integrated Joint Service collective training simulation system for military and governmental commanders.

Selected in 2004 to attend the Joint Services Advance Command and Staff Course; he completed a year of studies in politics, economics, defence, security, international relations and the environment. In-depth studies of Air Power, Russia, European Union, Middle East and a thesis on Pakistan gained him a KCL Masters at the end of the year. Following this he was selected for command and in September 2005 was posted back to operational flying to command 201 Squadron. He also sat on the RAF Kinloss Command Board with responsibility for evolving strategic plans to sustain current and exploit future potential of the Nimrod MR2 Weapons System across all existing and developing warfare roles at National and International levels. This role required proactive liaison with all strands of military operations, civilian agencies and Other Government Departments utilising the MR2’s ISR product during a particularly testing period of intensive warfare. Chaz continues to employ his extensive experience to develop operational ISR for various international military and industry bodies.

Rotary Division	Fast Jets Division	Human Factors Division

ISTAR Division	Radar & EW Division	Air Transport Division

Maritime Air Division		Intelligence Division