Flight Lieutenant Abbey Addison | Aerosystems Engineering Officer, Royal Air Force

Flight Lieutenant Abbey Addison, aged 30, is an Aerosystems Engineering Officer in the Royal Air Force.

She joined the Air Cadet Organisation during Secondary School and went on to achieve a bursary place at Welbeck Defence Sixth Form Boarding College, where she studied her A-levels and began her military training. In 2012, she graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Whilst at University, she joined the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme and continued to learn the fundamental military and leadership skills needed for her future career as an Officer.

During her 9 years in the Royal Air Force, she has been responsible for a wide variety of military equipment, ranging from Land Rovers & Heavy Haulage vehicles, to the Hercules C-130J transport aircraft. She has commanded teams of over 100 people, both in the UK and overseas on Operations. She has gained professional registration as an Incorporated Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and now volunteers as a mentor with the Institution to help others achieve the same career milestone. Most recently, she has taken a career break with maternity leave, and is now a proud mum of two little boys.

Aside from Engineering, Abbey has maintained a keen interest in sports & adventurous training in the Royal Air Force. She has taken part in mountain climbing, skiing, parachute jumping and white water rafting to name a few.

Abbey has joined us today to tell us more about her career so far, how she balances being a mum with service life, and the many roles open to engineering officers in the Royal Air Force.