Warrant Officer Chris Slator joined the Royal Air Force as Engineering Technician (Electronics) in 2001, following completion of Phase 2 training at RAF Cosford was posted to RAF Leeming. In between deploying on FP duties for Op TELIC in 2003 and Joint Communication Unit Falkland Islands in 2005 he was responsible for maintenance of airfield navigational aids supporting UK quick reaction aircraft.
Employed within Engineering Wing at RAF Marham within the ISTAR Engineering Flight, WO Slator was responsible for 1st/2nd line maintenance of exploitation equipment and data links supporting both Harrier and Tornado on exercises both at home and abroad which also included joining a prototype UAV project from UK industry prior to deploying it to Op HERRICK as a concept demonstrator.
A tour at Tactical Imagery Intelligence Wing included multiple operational deployed tours of HERRICK and ELLAMY along with a project management role in establishing Project Crossbow, a collaboration between USAF and RAF to exploit data around the clock collected by deployed assets. Ninety Signal Units provided experience in the deployable airfield environment and also leading small technical development and trials teams to provide interoperability testing of CIS with networks and innovation tasks. This time also included a deployed tour on Op KIPION.
For a short tour in HQ British Forces Cyprus in the J6 Branch, WO Slator was a member of a 3-person J6 Assurance team in the tri-service environment before returning to the UK on promotion to Flight Sergeant at RAF Benson. During three years there he oversaw and managed numerous complex projects and issues to ensure delivery of RW capability both at home and abroad. Activated onto Op RESCRIPT in 2020 he filled the position of SO3 J6 assisting to deliver MACA capability to the most remote parts of the UK.
Selected to join Strategic Support Programme – C4i Project in August 2021, he was the senior enlisted representative for c1900 Cyber professionals during one of the most complex change programmes in a generation whilst the profession was in growth.
On promotion to Warrant Officer, he was posted to NATO at JFC Naples as an IKM Staff Assistant gaining significant Alliance experience. He is married to Nicola and they have three children, two in the UK pursuing their own working careers and accompanied by the youngest. In his spare time he manages the RAF Motor Racing Team and is active on the RAF Motor Sports Association general committee in attempt to increase the accessibility of the complex sport of circuit racing.
(Current as of Jul 2024)