Assistant Chief Coastguard Matt Leat joined His Majesty’s Coastguard in 2010 at MRSC London. Prior to joining HM Coastguard, Matt worked as a Thames Waterman and Lighterman as a master of high sped passenger vessels. Matt then worked for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in London as a Commander at the RNLI’s busiest lifeboat station and is still a volunteer crewmember, a position he has supported since 2002.

During his time within the Coastguard, Matt has undertaken significant operational and management roles within Search and Rescue with notable examples being the Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator for the Queens Diamond Jubilee River Pageant.

Matt’s career within HM Coastguard has seen him operating as a technical trainer, silver and gold commander and lead the services operational technology acting as its senior user.

Matt’s portfolio as Assistant Chief Coastguard covers Operational Technology and the Coastguard national network.