A retired commanding officer at RNAS Culdrose has been recognised in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List.

Lieutenant Commander Alan Rogers, now a naval reservist currently serving on 700X Naval Air Squadron, will pick up a prestigious Queen's Volunteer Reserve Medal for his devoted work on remotely piloted 'unmanned aerial systems' and their use in the Royal Navy.

The medal is given in recognition for his hard work and dedication over the years to not only this but through his 43-year career in the Royal Navy.

Alan has in depth experience in unmanned air operations, having previously served as the commanding officer of the ‘Fleet Target Group’ and 792 Naval Air Squadron. He later gained experience with the Mirach 100/5 aerial target and logged over 100 launches in support of Sea Dart firings as well as Tornado and Typhoon air to air missile systems.

Alan joined the Navy in 1974 when he joined up as an air engineering mechanic. He progressed through the ranks and was commissioned as a special duty aviation officer, then served as flight deck officer onboard the commando assault carrier HMS Ocean.

On retiring from the Royal Navy in 2011, Alan was asked by Navy Command Headquarters to consider acting as a special adviser on operating unmanned aircraft from ships. This led to him being offered a Full Time Reserve Service contract and command of 700X Squadron.