Flt Lt David Littlemore BEng (Hons) CEng MICE MAPM
CASE STUDY
Education and qualifications: BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering,
University of Durham
Which Institutions are you a member of? The Institution of Civil
Engineers (ICE), The Association for Project Management (APM)
Current job title: Royal Air Force Officer
Company: Royal Air Force
Length in current job: Seven years
Approximately how many staff are employed by your
company? 1,000+
Where are you based? RAF Odiham, Hampshire, UK
Please describe your current role:
As an Officer in the Royal Air Force I have predominantly
spent my time working in the field of infrastructure and project
management. I work with my own service and with the Royal
Navy, Army, civil servants and contractors, both in the UK
and overseas, to ensure the provision and maintenance of
suitable facilities and infrastructure to meet the needs of the
Ministry of Defence (MoD). I have also undertaken a number
of other roles away from infrastructure for my wider
professional and managerial development.
Please provide a brief outline of your career so far:
Having completed my secondary education, I began working
for WS Atkins Consultants Ltd in Cambridge as a Trainee
Technician. During this time I gained both National and
Higher National Certificates in Civil Engineering Studies,
before going on to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil
Engineering at the University of Durham as an ICE QUEST
Scholar. After graduation in 2004, I worked for Hannah-Reed
and Associates under an ICE Approved Graduate Training
Scheme.
I was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 2008 and was
assigned to RAF Brize Norton as Officer Commanding Works
Services Flight, responsible for all response maintenance and
new works supported by the Royal Engineers. In December
2011 I spent six months on the Falkland Islands and
Ascension Island working for the Defence Infrastructure
Organisation. The following year I was detached to 12 (Air
Support) Engineer Group Royal Engineers as the
Headquarters Air Command A5 Plans Officer, delivering
airfield and technical infrastructure solutions in support of air
and maritime operations throughout the Middle East. In spring
2014 I was posted to RAF Odiham, where I am undertaking a
role in personnel and welfare management.
Created December 2015
Have you worked on any unusual or high profile
projects?
Whilst in industry I worked on a number of high profile
projects, including the construction of a new research facility
for the University of Cambridge’s engineering department and
the design of a new Holiday Village for Center Parcs.
However, I have seen the most variety during my military
career. At RAF Brize Norton, I worked on the construction of
the New Repatriation Centre used for the return of those
killed on active operations, which was extremely humbling
and so important for the families and relatives. My work has
also taken me abroad many times, including to the United
States and several countries across the Middle East.
What attracted you to become registered as a CEng?
Becoming a Chartered Engineer has always been my goal.
CEng is recognised globally and opens up endless
opportunities in organisations both at home and overseas. It
also demonstrates competence and commitment to your
profession and future Continuing Professional Development
(CPD) as an engineer.
How did you become registered as a CEng?
Having gained a BEng degree I then followed an approved
training scheme to become an Incorporated Engineer (IEng)
in 2010. I continued to expand my technical experience and
set my sights on gaining CEng via the Technical Report
option, which I completed in March 2015.
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CASE STUDY
I was supported throughout this process by my institution, my
command chain, peers and the Royal Engineers, who gave
me access to a range of support that was instrumental in my
CPD and preparation for my professional review.
How has professional registration as a CEng benefitted
your career?
Professional registration as a CEng has set me ahead of my
colleagues. It places confidence in my ability to manage and
lead complex engineering design projects and I have been
selected over others to undertake a number of roles which
may have otherwise passed me by.
What advice would you give someone considering
professional registration as a CEng?
Make the most of every opportunity to go out on site and see
things happening first hand, or attend professional meetings
to increase your industry knowledge and contacts. If these
opportunities don’t exist in your organisation, go out and
make them happen using your institution’s support. At the
start it may seem a long way to go to achieve and
demonstrate the required competencies, but it is worth the
hard work when you finally receive the letter from your
institution saying that you have met the required standard to
become a Chartered Engineer.
What are your future goals?
My immediate career goals are to continue working on a wide
range of infrastructure projects for the RAF and Defence to
gain further experience and hopefully promotion to Squadron
Leader in due course. I have also recently gained full
membership of the Association for Project Management
(APM) and am currently under training to become a
Professional Reviewer with ICE for EngTech and IEng
applications; having started out as a technician myself, I am
keen to support these initiatives.
How does your employer benefit from you being
professionally registered as a CEng?
As a CEng, the RAF benefits from my extensive civil
engineering, construction, project management and problem
solving experience. Being the only professionally registered
civil engineer in the RAF has given me greater recognition
and professional respect amongst my colleagues, chain of
command and with the Royal Engineers and civilian
contractors I work with.
Flt Lt David Littlemore BEng (Hons) CEng MICE MAPM
Registered: 2015
Operational infrastructure in the Middle East
Typhoon infrastructure construction at RAF Northolt for Op
OLYMPICS
What is your employer’s attitude towards professional
registration?
The RAF actively encourages professional development and
promotes initiatives for personnel with specialisations to
achieve chartered status. Whilst I am the only Member of ICE
in the RAF, hopefully my recent success will encourage
others to follow the same career path.
Were they supportive while you were working towards
professional registration as a CEng?
The RAF and wider MoD have been extremely supportive of
my goal to achieve CEng status. I was assigned positions
and projects to gain the experience I needed and allowed
time off to attend courses or preparation for my professional
review.
Created December 2015
Airfield Damage Repair (ADR)
training in the Falkland Islands
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