Welcome to Inzpire, Craig
16 Mar 21
New JoinersTechnical and Strategic Services OBU
16 Mar 21
New JoinersTechnical and Strategic Services OBU
We are delighted to welcome Craig 'Taff' Shannon to our technical and strategic services team as a communications information systems (CIS) specialist.
Taff joined the Royal Navy in 1992 as a Radio Operator after leaving college. On completion of his initial training at HMS Raleigh and his trade training at HMS Mercury, his first posting was RNAS Yeovilton Commcen/F.O.N.A (Flag Officer Naval Aviation) Message Handling Office. He then joined his first ship HMS Marlborough serving 2 years which included a 9-month deployment in the South Atlantic as the Falkland Is Guardship.
From 1992-2010 he has had a varied career both on land and at sea and then joined HMS Albion as the Operations Manager Communications from Sept 2010 to Apr 2012. During this period, he was responsible for the provision of information security, support, training and policy guidance for 1600 members of staff during an intense operational period not seen since the Falklands conflict. On completion of his sea draft he joined NATO Joint Electronic Warfare Course Staff (Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton), where he worked as an IT Technician ensuring all Unclassified/Secret IT equipment/networks were correctly maintained. He then went on to MOD Corsham working at UKNDA where he was responsible for the receipt, registration, storage, distribution and accounting for Cryptomaterial produced by CESG. Here Taff was the POC for entry and exit for all transactions concerning national and international Cryptomaterial with the authority to produce in-force directories for MOD controlled Cryptoial, including call sign publications and other non-technical publications that were subject to whole-life-accounting.
Promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 2016, Taff joined LFHQ located at MOD Abbey Wood on the Lightning Delivery Teams floorplate where he was the A6 lead for ALIS/Mission Planning Environmen (MPE) for the F35 Lightning. Taff was the first Chief CIS ALIS/MPE SME for Lightning Force HQ and provided extensive support to the RAF and RN to ensure the F35 could operate safely from RAF Marham and the QEC Carriers.
From 2018-2020 Taff was stationed on Cyberspace Sqn at Marham, again taking the lead as ALIS/MPE System manager. With the first F-35B land-based deployment on the horizon, he planned the initial, sustained and recovery outputs of the MPE team to ensure that 617 Sqn could mission plan and debrief, critical outputs for success. In addition to taking the lead for MPE, he provided a fully capable mission planning capability allowing 617 Sqn to achieve the training flying programme required before Operation Testing 1 (OT1), an important milestone for WESTLANT 19 and OC Carrier Strike.
Taff's final posting was in the Global Operations Security Control Centre at MOD Corsham, providing assurance on digital services delivered by the Duty Operations Team (DOT) who are the ultimate point of escalation for incidents affecting Defence CIS customers. As an overarching organisation, Taff provided military guidance and direction to the Operation Service Management team, Customer Services team and Managed Service Providers ensuring commonality in direction when resolving incidents. He represented the Network Operating Authority by leading on the operation and maintenance of the integrity of the Defence Network.
Taff's career path is as follows:
HMS Raleigh, HMS Mercury, RNAS Yeovilton Commcen/F.O.N.A (Flag Officer Naval Aviation) Message Handling Office, HMS Marlborough, FOP (Flag Officer Plymouth) Barrack Guard, Commcen Plymouth, HMS Collingwood, HMS Norfolk, HMS Illustrious, HMS Drake, HMS Monmouth, HMS Cumberland, HMS Argyll, RV Triton (Research Vessel), HMS Collingwood, HMS Albion, Queens Harbour Master Plymouth, RFA Cardigan Bay/ITAM (Iraqi Training and Maritime) Team, HMS Drake Commcen Plymouth, HMS Albion, Queens Harbour Master Plymouth, NATO JEWCS Yeovilton, UKNDA MOD Corsham, LFHQ MOD Abbeywood/Lightning Delivery Team, HMS Queen Elizabeth WESTLANT 18, RAF Marham Cyberspace Sqn, GOSCC MOD Corsham.
Taff now lives in Salisbury with his wife Hannah and their family. He enjoys travelling, is keen DIYer, huge rugby and NFL follower and hopes to complete his PPL(H).
Welcome to the team, Taff!
28.03.24
GECO
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