Commodore Paul Carter has served in the Royal Navy for more than 40 years, having joined as an Artificer Apprentice. His sea career has been predominantly in Attack Submarines, followed by senior shore appointments as a resource planner and as a capability and acquisition specialist.
Career highlights include leading the Spearfish Torpedo Upgrade Programme through Main Gate approval, contributing to the UKs initial response planning following the 9/11 attacks, conducting SSN operations East of Suez, and participating in a successful ICEX to the North Pole in HMS TIRELESS alongside USS HAMPTON.
As a Lieutenant Commander, he served as the Weapon Engineer Officer of HMS TRENCHANT, supporting Operation KIPION in the Gulf and Indian Ocean. He later became a Specialist Sea Rider within the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation, conducting sea training on every operational submarine class in the Flotilla from VANGUARD to ASTUTE.
Promoted to Commander in 2013, Captain in 2020, and Commodore in 2023, he has held staff appointments across the Royal Navy, Defence Intelligence, and the Defence Nuclear Organisation. His responsibilities have included Capability Sponsor roles for the Underwater Battlespace, Submarine C4 and Combat System Capability, and Defence Intelligence as the Joint User for Intelligence and Cyber systems.
Paul is now based at the Ministry of Defence within the Defence Nuclear Organisation, serving as the Head of the AUKUS Pillar 1 United Kingdom Programme Delivery Office and Programme Director.
A Chartered Engineer and graduate of the University of Southampton, he lives near the Hampshire coast with his wife Claire and has two grown up children. Outside of work, he has been renovating his forever home and is an enthusiastic student of military history. He also runs and swims in a vain attempt to keep fit.