David Cheetham: Former Royal Navy Systems Operator now IT Solutions Lead

DAVID CHEETHAM SERVED IN THE ROYAL NAVY FOR 11 YEARS, LEAVING IN 2002 AFTER BEING MEDICALLY DISCHARGED. HE FACED A HUGE NUMBER OF CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT HIS TRANSITION, WITH HIS FIRST JOB AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY A CLEANING ROLE BUT WITH A ‘STROKE OF LUCK’, AMBITION AND KNOWING WHAT ROLES WOULD SUIT HIM, DAVID IS NOW IN THE JOB HE HAS ALWAYS WANTED.

The former Electronic Warfare Systems Operator found himself with little time to prepare and said he didn’t have a plan for when he left as he really didn’t know what he wanted to do. After taking an IT test at a recruitment agency, he realised this could be a pathway into a career that would suit him. A move from Plymouth to Nottingham saw him working within the data team at Experian. And a job at Boots Head Office saw him working alongside IBM Project Managers where he soon realised ‘he could do their job’ - and that is how he found himself in an IT career.

“I got my Project Manager qualifications, working alongside IBM for three years, joining Risual almost 6 years ago, as a Project Manager and transitioned over to what I do now as Solutions Owner. So it was a bit of a stroke of luck, a bit of observation at what other people were doing - and now the job I’ve always wanted.”

He said although IT wasn’t an obvious choice when looking at careers, the project management side of it was, as it was a ‘natural fit’ for someone who was former Electronic Warfare Systems Operator. As a Solutions Owner, his core role is putting together IT proposals covering a whole variety of Microsoft services, with the second part of his role being as a ‘technology, innovate leader’ - driving the conversation internally, around how technology and innovation can help the company achieve better outcomes. 

David said the key transferable military skills he uses in his role everyday are leadership, empathy and the ‘get stuff done’ attitude. He explained: “Leadership is the key one. Sometimes when the going gets tough on a project, if things start slipping you have to bring the team back round again and drive them forward to success. 

“Empathy is another one people don’t associate with military people, but we do show an awful lot of empathy, that’s a crucial element. And the ‘get stuff done’ attitude is everything - people will follow you if they see you doing this. Also working under pressure - even now in my job we come under enormous pressure. Things happen beyond your control, you have to have the ability to bounce around it and bring things under your control and that’s probably the most important skill that you develop naturally in the Service and you don’t realise how useful that little skill is.” 

The key qualifications David has are: PRINCE 2 Project Management Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, ATMT Management Qualification, Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, Azure Fundamentals, Power Platform Fundamentals. But he said he would advise transitioning military personnel to focus on networking, work experience and if possible - a mentoring scheme to figure out where their skillset might be suited as ‘cyber security is not a one size fits all role’. He added: “Helping people get out the military is one thing - but helping them get into the right career for themselves is the second thing and if that means a bit of trial and error on the way then so be it. We have all been there.”

David said ex-military people are suited to roles within IT because of their in-built discipline. “There is a discipline about IT. Ex-military people are experienced in taking orders, having self-discipline while working under pressure which is crucial within IT. Communication is also key - that’s the empathetic side of the military and what makes them well-suited to this industry.”