Al Nekrews CBE QGM

Al Nekrews joined the Royal Navy in 1989. With 36 years of military service, he has led operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, the broader Middle East and Europe. A recognized authority in explosives and asymmetric maritime warfare, Al has spearheaded several UK/US bilateral programs countering emerging maritime threats from state and non-state actors. In 2011, he led a complex inter-agency maritime security program supporting preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. That same year, he became the first Royal Navy operator to qualify as a UK High Threat Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Disposal Operator, subsequently deploying to Afghanistan, where he was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM). Al joined UK Strategic Command in 2013, overseeing foreign weapons exploitation programs and delivering strategic technical intelligence assessments with Five Eyes partners. He also led a study to define unconventional threats in the maritime domain. In 2017, he served as the only UK Branch Chief