Ross Powlesland

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Ross is AWE’s Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, he is responsible for leading AWE’s Programmes, Product Delivery (Operations) and the Portfolio Management Office (PMO). Prior to this role, Ross was Programme Director for the Trident Warhead programme.

Prior to joining AWE, Ross was Managing Director, Military Solutions, within Lockheed Martin (LM) UK. In this role, he was responsible for leading the Military Solutions business – comprising Maritime (ships & submarines), Merlin Mk2 and Sustainment business units, delivering a range of capabilities and support programmes to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Ahead of joining LM, Ross held senior leadership roles with Vector Aerospace (Airbus Helicopters), QinetiQ and BAE SYSTEMS. In his role as Operations Director for Vector Aerospace’s Helicopter Services business, he was responsible for the strategic direction and general management of over 600 employees, providing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services to the UK MoD’s Chinook, Lynx and Sea King fleets, in addition to a commercial customer base.

Ross held the roles of Operations Director and Managing Director for one of the two formative businesses, now comprising QinetiQ’s Air Division at MoD Boscombe Down, delivering air Test & Evaluation services to the UK MoD and platform OEMs, by a team of over 1000 civilian and military personnel.

Ross started his career with BAE SYSTEMS as an Avionics Systems Engineer, developing integrated navigation systems for fast-jet, missile and munition applications prior to moving into the Programme Management discipline. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Science with a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree in Aeromechanical Systems Engineering and Salford University with a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Advanced Systems Engineering.

Ross lives in Hampshire with his family. He loves all sports including cycling, running and skiing, and is a keen motorcyclist.