We’re delighted to welcome David ‘Dave’ Stanbury to our Maritime Division, as a Maritime Operations and Seabed Warfare Subject Matter Expert.
Dave joined the Royal Navy straight from school in 1988 as a Junior Weapons Engineer. He then was promoted to a Leading Weapons Engineer in 1995, before joining the (then) 2nd Mine Warfare Flotilla onboard Penzance, as the Deputy Weapons Engineering Officer in 1998. With a burning ambition to become a Mine Clearance Diving Officer (MCDO), Dave conducted personal officer pre-training between 2003 and 2005 the required exams – passing with flying colours.
His Royal Navy career was incredibly successful, holding many different roles - all with ever increasing levels of responsibility. He completed the Principle Navigating Officer course in 2008 to navigate in the Gulf, West Atlantic and Baltic, before returning to the UK – progressing to the role of Executive Officer in 2012, as an MCDO. With sea time completed, Dave joined the Defence Diving School as a Diving Officer early in 2014 and spent 18 months instructing and indulging in his passion for diving!
He was then promoted to Principal Staff Officer to SNMCMG2; this role saw Dave work under the command of both Turkish and Greek Commodores. As the only first language English speaker, this proved to be a long 12 months away from home. Back in the UK, Dave took over from Inzpire’s Ben Piper at the Mine Warfare Operational Training Centre as second in command.
Fulfilling a long ambition, he then became the Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy Maritime Autonomous Systems Trials Team from 2018 to 2021. He made a final deployment back to the Gulf as Head of Maritime Planning in January 2021, for the US Navy, before accepting a job offer from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL) and leaving the Royal Navy in 2022.
As Maritime Mission System Specialist, he was quickly promoted to Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Project Technical Authority and was also a key member of the Seabed Warfare Operational Analysis Team. Dave went on to leave DSTL in early June 2024 to join the Maritime Division, here with us at Inzpire.
David lives in Gosport with his wife Emma, their two children Harry and Zahra and Irish Terrier Paddy! He also enjoys frequent visits from his elder daughters Hannah, along with Granddaughter Sofia, and Georgia, who all live locally.
Dave has raised money for several charities, enjoys DIY and all sports - especially Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing, representing the Royal Navy Portsmouth team and The Crazy Crew (an Alverstoke team). Dave recently rowed in the World Championship Pilot Gig Rowing competition for Help for Heroes, in the Isles of Scilly, and plays Veterans rugby for Locksheath Pumas.
Welcome to the team Dave – thank you for choosing Inzpire!
