Hazelle Garton joined the Royal Navy as an Air Engineer Officer (AEO) in 2008 having completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough University.
Following training she took up post as Assistant and then Deputy AEO on 702 Naval Air Squadron where she supported ab-initio aircrew and engineering training for the maritime Lynx helicopter, that deploys on to the Royal Navy frigates and destroyers worldwide. A key highlight was her role as the engineering lead for a deployment in Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay – a ship without a hangar where aircraft maintenance took place on the flight deck This was impressively during the depths of winter in extremely challenging weather conditions!
From 702 she moved to the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School as the Staff Officer. In addition to supporting the executive functions of the School, Hazelle was heavily involved in the mentoring of students and examination of those passing through on courses; this included their personal and professional development a responsibility that she relished. She was also a key member of the organisation team for the biennial AEOs’ Conference which delivers professional development and networking opportunities to circa 350 AEOs across the Royal Navy.
Assigned to the helicopter landing platform, HMS Ocean in 2015, Hazelle was responsible for the safe execution of the embarkation of a dozen aircraft, stores and personnel from across the Armed Forces to enable a 4-month deployment in support of NATO exercises. Added to this, she oversaw the embarkation of 3 US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft to the Ship for a 2-week period of operations, the interoperability of which was a first for the Royal Navy. On leaving Ocean in 2016 Hazelle was privileged to be a member of the inaugural Ship’s Company of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, in direct charge of a section of 36 Air Engineer Technicians, where her experience was used to help develop the processes and procedures to be used once the Ship sailed on completion of her build programme.
Selected for promotion to Lieutenant Commander she took up her current post in the Merlin Delivery Team as a Technical Through Life Support Manager in 2017 and is now responsible for ensuring that all projects introducing capability to the thirty £39m maritime helicopters have a fully developed support solution before entering service, including the necessary spares, tooling, training and technical information.
An unashamed cricket lover, Hazelle retired from playing for her county side Devon last season, placing in the top-10 of all-time wicket takers in the Women’s County Championship; she continues to captain the Royal Navy and UK Armed Forces ladies’ teams. Also a keen golfer, she represents both the Royal Navy and her local club, playing off a handicap of 10.
Hazelle will marry her long-term partner Laura (also a Naval engineer) in December and looks forward to the prospect of the pitter-patter of 4 tiny paws arriving in the house in due course.