Yeovilton Commodore's Award for Excellence

Dedication and work ethic in the job of Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton Manpower Co-ordinator sees Petty Officer (PO) Paul Fitzjohn awarded the Commodores Award for Excellence (CAFÉ).

For the past 18 months PO Fitzjohn has been the Station Manpower Co-ordinator for augmentation requests from Navy Command. During this period he has organised the Station’s response to requests for multiple national scale events, Op OLYMPICS, Op ESCALIN, Op QUICKTHORN and the Queens Diamond Jubilee. 

With demanding timelines to provide large numbers of personnel to fulfil requests PO Fitzjohn methodical approach gave his superiors the necessary assurance that tasks were correctly managed. He also collated departmental and personal details for the Pain and Grief statements, providing them to the Plans Officer in a timely manner, to allow RNAS Yeovilton to explain the associated implications to output. 

Leading up to and during Op OLYMPICS, the Station’s requirements frequently changed at short-notice. With a fluid approach PO Fitzjohn ensured that departments were kept informed of revised Navy Command Headquarters requirements and ensured Yeovilton provided suitably equipped personnel. He also kept individuals informed to ensure they were aware of requirements in an often changing environment. Over 2012 he frequently worked extended hours and on more than one occasion cancelled his own leave to facilitate his role effectively, with an emphasis on fulfilling requests within directed timelines. 

His commitment and work philosophy in this, his last year of Naval Service, has been commendable. His excellent working relationship with his superiors is a direct result of his proven ability to deliver when asked; his professional approach has been noteworthy. PO Fitzjohn has displayed the attributes worthy of a Commodore’s Award for Excellence presented to him by the Commanding Officer of RNAS Yeovilton,  Commodore Jock Alexander OBE