The big questions: David Andrews

David Andrews is professor of engineering design at University College London. His MoD career encompassed nuclear submarine design, the Invincible class aircraft carriers and early concept work on HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark and HMS Ocean. In 2020, RINA awarded him the William Froude Medal, its highest individual honour.

Why a career in naval architecture?

I have wanted to design ships since before I was eight when I was driving a pilot cutter in the summer of 1955 in the Bay of Port Philip, off Melbourne.

How has the industry changed since you started – for better and worse?

The ‘them and us’ between the management and the blue collar workforce used to be appalling, but the industry is now