Lance Bombardier (LBdr) Rumsby-Ferris is employed within 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, the Army’s only Tactical UAS Regiment. Whilst only commencing pilot training in June 2024, she has already displayed an exceptionally high level of professional competence and leadership that belies both her age and rank. 

During the Watchkeeper Pilot Course LBdr Rumsby-Ferris rapidly demonstrated her quick thinking, analytical skills, technical acumen and airmanship. She quickly moved from the theory to the practical phase and, without the use of the Full Mission Simulator (due to ongoing upgrades), completed the live flying component in the US, in four and a half months. She consistently demonstrated her considerable ability to retain and recall vast amounts of technical information on an aging and complicated system; whilst scoring well above the standard in all aspects of her training. LBdr Rumsby-Ferris consistently scored higher than her peers, and as a result, was top of her course.

Once qualified, she participated on Exercise ATHENA EAGLE at the Watchkeeper Flying School in Fort Bliss, Texas. During a routine currency sortie on the 25 February 25, when acting as the pilot, she responded to an emergency when the Air Vehicle suffered an engine malfunction whilst it was in a holding pattern as part of its normal departure profile. Whilst the aircraft followed its logic and landed at one of the Emergency Recovery Points (ERP) close to the airfield, her ability to remain calm under significant pressure whilst diagnosing a complex emergency, and executing the correct immediate actions was highlighted by the Aircraft Commander and subsequent investigation. Her prompt actions greatly minimised any 3rd party risks to life and led to a safe recovery of the aircraft at the ERP. 

Due to her natural ability, LBdr Rumsby-Ferris was selected as one of two line pilots for the initial deployment on Exercise ATHENA SHIELD 25 in Estonia. Exercise ATHENA SHIELD 25 forms part of a series of strategically significant linked Army and wider Defence exercises to rehearse the Estonian National Defence plan. This was a demanding exercise, operating in unfamiliar airspace, marginal Baltic weather and under the constant threat of Russian GPS interference. LBdr Rumsby-Ferris excelled in this environment. She has continued to learn from more senior aircrew and continues to demonstrate her considerable flying skills and ability. Although junior in rank and relatively newly qualified, she exudes outstanding leadership qualities and has taken the lead when operating in some of the most challenging conditions seen during this deployment.

1962/63  M P Glegg Esq

1963/64  D A Martin Esq

196465  T A Henderson Esq

1965/66  P G Hadgett Esq

196667  J W D Robertson Esq

196768  R J Barbour Esq

1968/69  A J E Tiley Esq

1969/70  C Redrupp Esq

1970/71  R G P Taylor Esq

1971/72  D Smethurst Esq

1972/73  G G Leask Esq

1973/74  J F Rothwell Esq

1974/75  G J Bressey Esq

1975/76  J F Nash Esq

1976/77  M J Thrower Esq

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1992/93  M D W Bowker Esq

1993/94  R Ka Fuk Cheung Esq

1994/95  W S Gilmour Esq

1995/96  Jamal Jamal Mohammed Jamal

1996/97  Matthew J Clatworthy Esq

1997/98  Emma Joanne Phelps

1998/99  Captain W I E Anderson

1999/2000  Pilot Ofiicer J S Clayton

2000/01  Nicholas Chan

2001/02  Flt Lt Nicola Thomas

2002/03  Daniel Fonseca MEng (Hons) GradRAeS

2003/04  Philip Gareth Donovan

2004/05  Peter Charles Edward Nye

2006 - 2010  not awarded

2010/11  awarded twice:
       Isabelle de Montet-Guerin
       Capt Robert Shoenberg USAF

2012 - 2014  not awarded

2014/15  Flt Lt Christopher Gonzalez RAF 

2016  Flt Lt Colin Bostrom MSc RAF

2017  Captain Matthew A Shipp USAF

2018  Captain Alexander Horrell USAF

2019  Aaron Keith Pearce

2020  TSgt Zane Romick USAF

2021  Flt Lt Ryan Stowe RAF

2022  Travis Ludlow

2023  First Lieutenant Andrew H Merkley USAF

2024  not awarded