On 17 Sep 25, Flight Lieutenant Ewers was awarded the Logistics Profession’s Gill Sword. The sword, first awarded in 1979, is competed for annually by Junior Officers of the Logistics Profession.
The award recognises, and is assessed against the criteria of: Innovation, Leadership, and Contribution - the latter being significant Commissioned contribution over what would be normally expected of them in their primary appointment.
Then Flying Officer Ewers, who is currently seconded to OCCAR, the organisation who manage the Atlas A400M’s international contracts, has earned this prestigious award through his exceptional work to positively transform the previous Atlas airframe spares contract and ensure the current 5-year replacement contract would build on that success.
Ewers led multinational meetings in Madrid to gain unopposed approval of his innovative contract performance regime. He rapidly became the single voice for spares performance on behalf of all nations (France, Spain, Belgium, UK), setting the foundations for UK Atlas availability to grow; achievements that go well beyond that expected of a Flying Officer. Flight Lieutenant Ewers was nominated for this award by Wing Commander Gorman, Service Delivery Lead in Defence Equipment & Support A400M In-Service Support, and he was presented with the sword by Air Commodore Simon Young, DE&S Air Mobility. He was joined on the day by his DE&S colleagues and other appreciative members of the Atlas Enterprise.
Wing Commander Gorman said:
“Ewers has set the foundations for Atlas availability to grow to 13/14 aircraft daily; his achievements go well beyond that expected of a Flying Officer [now Flight Lieutenant], with him regularly being the only UK representative in multinational / industry forums to lead on UK requirements. The way he has conducted himself has not only provided a class leading solution, it has also positioned the UK as a leading nation in the A400M multinational Enterprise.”
Wing Commander Gorman
Service Delivery Lead in Defence Equipment & Support A400M
