Synopsis:WGCDR Shannan Forrest will provide an account of her 30 year Air Force career. Shannan will talk about her initial engineering education and then her diverse career, starting with systems design, through to her current role providing acquisition advice. Shannan has been a maintenance manager, introduced aircraft into service, written regulations, undertaken Aviation Safety assessments and worked on six aircraft types. Shannan’s Air Force career hasn’t been typical and has been dotted with interesting, and some incredible, opportunities. Please join us to hear firsthand about the career of an Air Force Aeronautical Engineer.
Speaker:Wing Commander Shannan Forrest
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Wing Commander Shannan Forrest began her career in 1995 at RAAF Williamtown as a Systems Engineering Manager developing solutions to difficult and long term issues on the Classic Hornet and Macchi. WGCDR Forrest continued to support the fast-jet operations over the next 4 years with postings as the 3SQN Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Aircraft Structural Integrity at Director General Technical Airworthiness where she managed the Classic Hornet International Follow-On Structural Test Program Manager (IFOSTP) and monitored the Macchi Structural Integrity Program.
WGCDR Forrest diversified in 2001 joining DMO (CASG) as the Integrated Logistics Support Manager for Navigation Training Aircraft, where her team supported the fleet of eight HS748 and the B200 leased aircraft contract. WGCDR Forrest led the contract development, negotiation and transition team for the B300 King Air aircraft, which replaced both the HS748 and B200 aircraft.
In 2004 WGCDR Forrest became the Project Engineer and Senior Engineering Officer for AEW&C Transition. In this position she led a small team to establish the Authorised Engineering and Maintenance Organisations for the E-7A. This included preparing the sustainment contract request for tender and initial contract negotiations.
WGCDR Forrest returned to RAAF Williamtown in 2012 as a staff officer within Head Quarters Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (SRG), responsible for assuring regulatory compliance of eight diverse maintenance organisations. WGCDR Forrest was then selected as the 2OCU Senior Engineering Officer, responsible for supporting the demanding F/A-18 Classic Hornet fighter pilot training program.
On promotion, WGCDR Forrest joined the Defence Aviation Safety Authority as the Secretariat for the independent aviation safety reviews of all Defence in-service and project aviation systems. WGCDR Forrest recently completed a posting within Contestability Division where she was responsible for developing independent advice to Defence programs and committees to support informed investment decisions.
During Oct 2019-May 2020 WGCDR Forrest served in the Middle East as Commanding Officer Expeditionary Airbase Operations Unit and the Australian Precinct Commander for Al Minhab and Al Dhafra Airbases.
WGCDR Forrest is currently posted to the Air Force Headquarters where she is responsible for advice to Programs and Projects supporting acquisition of new Air Force capabilities.
WGCDR Forrest is a tertiary qualified Aerospace Engineer and Chartered Professional Engineer. She is a graduate of Australian Command and Staff College and has a Masters of Arts in Policy and Strategy.
Event Details:Format: Online
Date: 19th October 2021
Time: 7:00pm AEDT (Sydney)
#CareerAdvice#AircraftDesign