Major Paul Hurst

Paul is a serving member of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  His career began in 1991 as a Field Surveyor and Data Technician, but in more recent years he has specialised in Geospatial information management and exploitation.  During his 27-year career he has seen active service in Bosnia, Macedonia and Afghanistan, with visits to various austere locations such as Sardinia, Falkland Islands, Madagascar, Oman, Svalbard, Norway and Egypt.  Academic study with the Open University led him to complete a Science Bachelors Degree with honours in 2008.  In 2010 he completed a Science Masters Degree programme in Information Systems and Computer Science at the University of Sheffield where he graduated with Distinction.  In January 2013, he had an academic paper published in the Journal of Information Science titled ‘Is it the end of the road for paper maps in the Digital Age?’.  Finally, in 2018 rounding of his most recent academic achievement he graduated from the University of Northampton after completing an MBA. Paul left the ranks after selection for Commissioning in May 2014 this was followed by an assignment to the Headquarters Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) based in Izmir, Turkey.  As the first Geospatial Officer at LANDCOM his principle responsibilities included the provision of Geospatial advice and products to the command staff and the many subordinate NATO Corps.  The defining experience of this assignment was realised through his development and delivery of geospatial ground assessments that contributed to the five NATO HQ approved Graduated Response Plans (GRPs).  More recently he completed the residential Intermediate Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham.  Currently Paul is the Senior Instructor of the Geospatial Information Management Wing at the Royal School of Military Survey where he oversees the design, delivery and assurance of specialist Geospatial training to Defence.