Tiberius Aerospace, a modern defence technology company built to empower the UK, US and their global allies with next generation weapon systems and AI powered solutions is pleased to announce that Blythe Crawford CBE has joined the team as Director GRAIL. With a distinguished flying and transformation focused career in the Royal Air Force, multiple national and international operational roles focused on innovation, strategy and the nature of warfare and an esteemed academic background as professor at Durham University where he is currently studying a doctorate in Innovation, Technology and Strategy, Blythe is a perfect fit for the role.

Blythe Crawford has recently left the Royal Air Force as an Air Commodore, where he last served as the Commandant of the Air and Space Warfare Centre, driving radical transformation of capability development in support of Ukraine. He previously spent some 15 years flying the Tornado F3 both in peacetime and on operations, while completing staff tours in NATO and the Pentagon. During this time, he completed Masters degrees from Cambridge in International Relations, and Kings College, London, in Defence Studies. He oversaw the transfer of Typhoon operations to RAF Lossiemouth from RAF Leuchars and deployed as Commander 121 Expeditionary Air Wing, leading OPERATION LUMINOUS, before deploying as XO to the Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division, in Baghdad on OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. Blythe was awarded an OBE in 2015

Within Joint Forces Command, he led the rollout of ‘Warfare in the Information Age’ and then returned to Washington as the interoperability lead for the Multi Domain Command and Control enterprise, before participating in the development of the USAF’s innovation strategy. Appointed Station Commander, RAF Leeming, he drove multiple transformation programmes including setting up the RAF’s first innovation hub, RAFX and serving as ADC to the late HM the Queen. He was awarded a CBE in 2021 before attending Higher Command and Staff College. Blythe is currently completing a Doctorate in Innovation, Technology and Strategy at Durham University, where he is also a Professor in Practice. He is currently a visiting fellow on the Changing Character of War programme at Pembroke College, Oxford, a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Durham Institute for Research, Development and Invention and the Institute for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange.

Blythe joins Tiberius Aerospace as Director Grail and said “I am fascinated with the concept and enormous benefits that GRAIL will deliver. Designing the most cost-effective and lethal weapons of the future is a challenge of innovation. Sustaining their relevance for warfighters across vastly different environments is a challenge of supply. GRAIL unites design objectivity with the world’s largest mobilised supply chain, enabling every Allied nation to harness the power of Silicon Valley style continuous iteration and development (CI/CD).” He added, “I am really looking forward to leveraging my extensive experience, mission focus and drive for positive transformation, innovation and partnering with SMEs, primes and governments in the quest for resilient national defence and security.”

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