High-flying Dr David Caddick MBE celebrates PhD success

14.12.2016

After suspending his studies for a year to serve a tour in Afghanistan, Dr David Caddick MBE graduated with a PhD from Robert Gordon University (RGU). 

The 55-year-old, who lives in Inverness, took to the stage at The Beach Ballroom on 6 December to collect his PhD.

David – who is HRFCA’s Vice-Chairman Air – said he wanted to do a PhD and selected RGU’s Aberdeen Business School.

He said: “It has been a long slog but hugely rewarding and an overall great experience.

“During my studies, I was a Royal Air Force reservist and had to suspend for a year when I was mobilised and served a tour in Afghanistan in 2010 – if it wasn’t for the support from my supervisor and family I doubt I would have completed but I am extremely proud to have finished.”

David joined the RAF in 1979 as a university cadet and after graduating with a BA (Hons) in International Relations and Geography he served in a variety of command and staff appointments in the UK and Germany including detachments to America, Australia and Cyprus and two operational tours in Northern Ireland. 

This graduation adds to a long list of achievements for David.

He completed the RAF Higher Level Defence Studies Programme at the University of Aberdeen gaining a MLitt in Strategic Studies and the Joint Services Advanced Command and Staff Course graduating with an MA in Defence Studies from Kings College London. He also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from South Bank University.

He was awarded a Commendation for his service in Northern Ireland in 1985, and appointed MBE in 1995. He retired as a Wing Commander in 2001 and settled in Inverness.

David then worked as the head of skills development for a regional development agency, and graduated with an MBA from the Open University before setting up his own management development consultancy that he ran successfully for 10 years, working across the private, public and voluntary sectors. 

He now pursues an academic career as a lecturer at Inverness College, University of the Highlands and Islands. He lectures and researches in a variety of management disciplines with a special interest in career transitions and strategic leadership and management.

In 2007 he joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force as a reservist. He has commanded 2622 (Highland) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and was mobilised in 2010 and commanded an influence team on operations in Southern Afghanistan.



Back
Reserve Forces
Royal Navy Logo Royal Marines Commando Logo Army Logo RAF Reserves Logo
Cadets
Sea Cadets Logo Army Cadet Force Logo Air Cadets Logo Combined Cadet Force