Mon, 12 August, 2019
The Welding Institute is pleased to announce Dave Holmes as the new president.
Dave has been with BAE Systems for 35 years, where he started as an apprentice in 1984. In 1994, he completed the Fellowship in Aerospace Management at Cranfield University. During the time he has worked with BAE Systems, Dave has undertaken various roles – both technical and operational – across numerous Air Sector sites in the UK, while also extending his expertise worldwide, with international partners, suppliers and customers.
He is currently the Manufacturing Director for BAE Systems’ Air Sector, involving responsibility for all the manufacturing activities within the sector, across people, process, and systems capability development along with governance for both non-recurring and recurring activities. Additionally, Dave leads the Air Sector UK Production activities, while also being responsible for the operational delivery of the Hawk Training Aircraft and the Typhoon Fast Jet products.
Within the Air Sector, Dave’s role goes beyond manufacturing activities. He is also responsible for the facilities and infrastructure services for the UK Air Sector locations, along with providing functional governance and assurance for the overseas facilities.
Recently, Dave also led the establishment of an Industrialisation Team which is charged with developing capability insertion programmes in conjunction with the company’s overseas partners and customers. This led to the establishment and transfer of capability to a number of international locations.
He played a crucial role, while working with Lockheed Martin in the late 1990s, in supporting the down select of the F35 Lightning II for the company’s partners and the subsequent development and implementation of UK Air’s manufacturing strategy.
The Be Inspired Business Award Business Person of the Year award, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors North West award for Design and Innovation, and the North West Regional Development Agency award for Best Practice were all awarded to Dave in 2010. The latter two were for the site master plan and developments at BAE Systems’ Samlesbury site in support of the F35 Advanced Manufacturing Solution.
Dave was recognised for his contribution to manufacturing within the UK by The Manufacturer publication, in 2017, within their prestigious Top 100 Exemplar awards.
Currently, Dave continues to lead the business’ undertaking in transitioning Air Sector technology and people in manufacturing for the next generation of BAE Systems air vehicles and services in conjunction with academic institutes and Government bodies.
As well as being the newly appointed president of The Welding Institute, Dave represents BAE Systems on numerous eternal forums, including the local Chamber of Commerce and Lancashire Economic Partnership Board.
Watch our short video interview with Dave, in which he explains how TWI’s capabilities and technological understanding aligns with BAE’s work on a global level.
Dave Holmes