Following a degree in Chemistry at the University of Oxford, Andy obtained his PhD from the Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton.  He then held three post-doctoral research positions in Japan, France and Southampton before joining Dstl (then CBDE).  Andy became a Dstl Fellow in 2001 and accepted a two-year secondment to the Home Office as Chief Scientist for CBRN in 2005.  Upon his return to Dstl in 2007, he was appointed Chief Scientist for Physical Sciences.  Andy took over the Dstl Technical Directorate in 2012 and led Dstl’s S&T from then until 2015.

He then moved to the Home Office as Head of the Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) from 2015 to 2018.  Andy led the organisation in providing S&T advice and solutions to support operational and policy development in policing, fire and rescue, borders and immigration, CT and security.  He was then integral to the CAST integration to Dstl.

Andy is currently Chief Technical Officer for Dstl with responsibility for the direction and development of non-nuclear S&T capabilities to support the UK’s defence, security and resilience, and sits on the Dstl Executive Management Committee and Board. 

Andy is both a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of the Institute of Physics, and is a Council Member of the former.  He holds a visiting chair at the University of Southampton Chemistry Department, is a Fellow of the University, and chairs Government S&T Advisory Boards