Join us for our next ARNO online talk on Thursday 19 November at 1900 hrs when Guest Speakers and ARNO members Captain Steve Prest and Lieutenant Jim Waller RNR debate ‘The Pros and Cons of the Use of Social Media for Professional Military Education’.

Book your ticket here.

Captain Steve Prest MEng(Hons) CEng MIET Royal Navy is Deputy Director Navy Acquisition (Equipment and Systems) and SRO for the Maritime Electronic Warfare and Maritime Multi-Link Programmes. Steve is an experienced Weapon Engineer Officer in the Royal Navy with a background in operational engineering, capability management and programme leadership. During his career he has often found himself at the forefront of complex technical and organisational challenges. His sea-going career saw him deployed operationally across the world in HM Ships WESTMINSTER and SUTHERLAND, and most recently as the Commander (Weapon Engineer) in HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, bringing the ship out of build in Rosyth, through initial sea trials and home to Portsmouth for the first time.

Ashore, he has worked in the Ministry of Defence, Navy Command HQ and the Permanent Joint Headquarters (which included a short stint in Afghanistan); as well as in the MOD delivery agencies providing engineering service support and operational management of global communications services. Having previously been the Programme Director of the Type 31 Frigate Programme, he is now Deputy Director Navy Acquisition (Equipment and Systems) and SRO for the Maritime Electronic Warfare and Maritime Multi-Link Programmes. Find Steve on Twitter @FightingSailor.

Lieutenant James Waller RNR has worked in a variety of challenging and demanding national security related roles since 2003 in the MOD, Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Cabinet Office.

He has been fortunate enough to enjoy postings in Whitehall, PJHQ and the wider front-line including deployments to OP TELIC and UKMCC Bahrain. He currently works in Whitehall handling complex national security related issues.

A naval reservist since 1998, he has worked as both an Intelligence Officer and Media Officer, supporting the work of the Royal Navy on operations around the world, including mobilising to serve on OP HERRICK.