Commander Mike Goldthorpe
BEM RN
Director
Commander Simon Howell
RN
Operations Manager
Steven Heard
Finance & Support Manager
Natalie Bywaters
Membership & Communications Manager
Gerry Cassidy
Grants Administrator
Commander Mike Goldthorpe
Mike was born in Yorkshire and educated at Mexborough Grammar School before joining the Royal Navy as a Writer in 1978. During his career, he served on a number of ships and onshore at location including the British Embassy in Muscat, RNAS Yeovilton, British Forces HQ Gibraltar and the MoD in London. He retired with the rank of Commander in 2010.
Commander Simon Howell
Joined the RN in 1981 as a General List seaman officer and completed a number of watchkeeping roles, including as Navigator in HMS LINDISFARNE (86-88) and CUMBERLAND (89-91) and he was also the Navigator on the Dartmouth Training Squadron Staff (88-89). Commanding Officer of the Dartmouth Navigation Training Ship HMS WILTON (91-93). A PWO (A), he served in HMS INVINCIBLE and RICHMOND and then returned to Officer training to run the Initial Sea Training Staff (96-98) before becoming the XO of HMS ARGYLL (98-2000). Following the first ACSC held at Shrivenham, he became the Fleet XO, was promoted Cdr in 2004 and was the Fleet NBCD/CBRNDC Officer before becoming the Commanding Officer HMS EXCELLENT (07-10). A seven month Optour on the OPLAT in the Northern Gulf was followed by a role back in the Personnel Area in Navy Command HQ. In 2013 he left regular service but didn’t find anything that suited him and he returned to NCHQ and spent 10 years (14-24) as SO1 Exec, where he has fulfilled a wide range of responsibilities including leading the Compulsory Drug Testing Team, having the policy lead for uniform, the divisional system and a host of unglamorous executive issues. Lives in Felpham, West Sussex with his wife Emma.
Steven Heard
Steven returns to ARNO and the RNOC after some time spent as an Independent Schools Business Manager, which allowed him to be closer to his family. Steven’s experiences are based around his time spent as the Commanding Officer of his local Training Ship, TS St Albans. He brings a wealth of business acumen and operational experience and looks forward to supporting the team in his new role.
Natalie Bywaters
Natalie joins the ARNO team after leaving the Royal Navy as a WO1Wtr. After 27 years, she brings a wealth of experience, having served in a wide variety of roles and units, including; T23’s, Gibraltar, CVS, Service Complaints, Workforce Planning and most recently, Career Management. She is looking forward to working with and supporting the ARNO team.
Gerry Cassidy
Gerry Cassidy has over 20 years’ experience in the charity and maritime sector providing information and advocating on the issues that impact people’s daily lives. She has particular expertise in debt advice.
