Professor Vernon Gibson was appointed Chief Scientific Adviser at the MOD in 2012.
Vernon received his Bachelors degree in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield followed by a doctorate from the University of Oxford. Following two years as a NATO post-doctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology he returned to the UK to a lectureship at Durham University and was promoted directly to a full Professorship there in 1992.
In 1995 he moved to Imperial College London where he held the Sir Edward Frankland Chair of Inorganic Chemistry. He has received numerous national and international awards and was elected to the Royal Society in 2004.
Before joining MOD, Vernon held the post of Chief Chemist at BP, a role in which he provided leadership to BP’s large technology community and advice to the company on science and technology matters. His remit spanned oil and gas exploration and production, downstream refining and petrochemicals, and the company’s alternative energy businesses.
An important part of his role was to maintain connections with world class research through major academic and industrial partners across the globe.
One of the most enjoyable tasks I have as MOD Chief Scientific Adviser is recognising those who have made the most outstanding contributions to defence science and technology each year. This Commendation Scheme gives me an opportunity to learn more …