Mr Mark Elson MBE

Mark Elson – Chief in the UK Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), responsible for Air Survivability. Previous significant roles include Team Leader for Infrared Countermeasure Evaluation, Group Leader for Threat Evaluation and Department Manager for Sensors and Countermeasures Department.

Mark has thirty plus years’ experience in the development of Air Survivability solutions, is an active member of the UK community and led the S&T input into the development of the Next Generation Air Survivability approach and the formation of Team PELLONIA. Previoulsy awarded the MBE in 2008 aligned with Helicopter Protection solutions for Operations HERRICK and TELIC. An Electronic Engineer who studied a Masters in novel Air Survivability concepts with Cranfield University where he is now a visiting Fellow. 

In addition, Mark has supported NATO Air Forces Armament Group (NAFAG) since 1996 and has been the chair of the Air Capability Group 3, Sub Group 2 (ACG3/SG2), responsible for EW Protection Measures for Joint Airborne Assets, since 2007. His current focus is on rolling out the Next Generation Air Survivability approach across NATO to deliver proactive, system-level and agile solutions that stay ahead of threat in complex and connected operational environments and scale to provide the Mission-Level survivability solutions needed for NATO Suppression of Enemy Air Defence 2030.

Mark is an Electromagntic Warfare (EW) advocate and an active member of the Association of Old Crows (AOC) and regularly leads the NATO Session at the AOC Europe Conference. A highlight was chairing the AOC Europe Conference in Montpellier in 2022.