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Andrea joins us fresh from a career in the Royal Air Force that spanned 23 years.  She enlisted into the RAF straight from school, initially working in Air Traffic Control; she quickly learnt that there were those that supported flying operations and those that did the flying!  Keen to get on the other side of the ‘fence’ she applied for Officer and Aircrew selection. She successfully completed flying training during 1992-1995 and graduated as the RAF’s first female Tornado GR1 Navigator.

She experienced many Operational Tours of Duty and also took part in large international NATO Exercises around the world.  After 6 years on the front-line she became a Fast Jet Tactics Instructor on the Tornado Conversion Unit.  It was during this tour that she was specially selected to fly in the Tornado GR4 Display Team.  Her pilot was Colin McGregor, whose younger brother is the famous film star - Ewan.   Andrea was the first female Fast Jet Aircrew to be part of a Display Team; coupled with her famous pilot they attracted a lot of media attention and consequently became rather adept at media interviews.  Taking advantage of all the publicity they used their extensive organisational skills to organise various charity events during the Display Season.  In total, they raised over £80,000 for Children’s Hospice Association in Scotland.

Andrea was promoted to Squadron Leader in 2002; in her next job she was responsible for organising the UK’s largest Air Exercise.  Her organisational abilities were put to the test as she had to integrate all 3 UK Armed Forces, Foreign Air Forces and Defence Companies into the Exercise.  With over 250 personnel to brief her presentation skills were also well practised.

In 2006 she returned to flying the Tornado GR4 – as Deputy Squadron Commander on the RAF’s largest Fast Jet Squadron.  In the Executive role she had vast experience in day-to-day operations and was responsible for the long-term strategy of the Squadron.   As one of the most experienced Tornado Instructors in the RAF she was responsible for the supervision, instruction and mentoring of inexperienced pilots and navigators, ultimately deciding whether they possessed the necessary qualities and skills to graduate to front line operational status.  In addition, she was responsible for training experienced Tornado Operators to become instructors.          

During her time in the RAF she has faced many challenging situations and will be bringing her unique set of leadership, teambuilding, advanced planning and problem solving skills to the red horse speaks. She is a keen horse woman and is the proud owner of Eddie, a loveable, 20 year old Highland Pony and Ebony, a dashingly handsome, Hanoverian Cross.