Cook Defence Systems appoints Chief Engineer

Dougal Crisp CEng MIMechE spent most of his recent career at JCB, where he played a leading role in the development of the High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE) for the US Department of Defense and the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).

He was commended by the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support organization for his “critical” work on the British Army’s TALISMAN route clearing programme in Afghanistan.

At Cook Defence Systems, Dougal has taken on full engineering responsibility for AFV track systems and is working with the company’s teams at its state-of-the-art factory at Stanhope, County Durham and field support office in Bovington, Dorset.

Dougal said: “I am delighted to have joined Cook Defence Systems and am enjoying working with its friendly and talented people.

“I have been particularly impressed with the company’s commitment to the future through its investment in manufacturing capabilities and the development of its apprenticeship programme.”

William Cook, director of Cook Defence Systems, said: “Dougal is an experienced mechanical engineer with an admirable track record of delivering life-saving kit for soldiers on the front line.

“Dougal will continue to drive our development of new track systems for AFV users and OEMs worldwide, cementing our position as the world’s leading independent designer and manufacturer of AFV track systems”.

Dougal holds Chartered Engineer status with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He started his career with engineering company Baker Perkins.

Cook Defence Systems has invested £5m in its Stanhope site since 2019 to expand its manufacturing and testing capabilities and will invest a further £1m this year on new equipment including a new heat treatment facility and a new robotic digital X-ray inspection system.

The company employs 125 skilled personnel including a number of apprentices and supports hundreds more jobs in its British supply chain.