QinetiQ Team Decorated For Afghanistan Work

The Duke of Kent today presented operational service medals to three QinetiQ team members at its Malvern Technology Centre. Tony Luckhurst, Andy Garton, and Kieran Farrell received campaign medals for their work in the Persistent Wide Area Surveillance (PWAS) programme in Afghanistan.

According to the company, the Contractors on Deployed Operations (Condo) were in two of the country’s forward operating bases in theatre over the summer in order to support a military evaluation of the equipment and develop new tactics, techniques and procedures. The project was contracted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) Research Programme.

Private sector heroes

DSTL supplies sensitive and specialist science and technology services for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and wider government, and leads and undertakes those activities that it would be inappropriate to carry out in the private sector.

“As Contractors on Deployed Operations, this has involved considerable risk to the individuals concerned, as well as a heavy responsibility to ensure that the trial was carried out successfully,” said the company in a statement.

Tony Luckhurst led the Condo team and was the point of contact for military liaison. Andy Garton, who has a background in military logistics, had special responsibilities for one of the Forward Operating Bases, while Kieran Farrell, a systems engineer with a background in surveillance systems was also instrumental in the project’s success.

Two other team members, Jason Twist and David Beel, have already received Operational Service Medals for their work on the project.

Managing director of technical and information services Adam Palser said, “All the QinetiQ staff concerned demonstrated an extremely professional attitude in carrying out these duties, leading to a very successful trial and the safe return of all the Condo team.”