BGen Doran served as the United States' Senior National Representative for the UK Carrier Strike Group during the 2021 deployment. Having flown over 600 combat hours in F/A-18 and F-35B, receiving the 2012 USMC Tailhooker of the Year Award and with over 800 landings on nine different aircraft carriers, BGen Doran has led a successful career. Before his service to the UK Carrier Strike Group, he served as the Assistant Wing Commander of 3D Marine Aircraft Wing.
The purpose of the visit was to brief STRIKFORNATO staff through a Professional Military Education Programme that focused on improving military education for personnel and incorporating new knowledge on CSG21, which was the first Operational deployment for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH (QNLZ).
The ship's airwing consisted of 10x USMC F-35B and 8x UK F-35B along with 7x Merlin helicopters. STRIKFORNATO staff learned about the interoperability training between NATO Allies and partners and the relationships that were strengthened over the duration of the QNLZ deployment.
QNLZ's deployment was a duration of seven and a half months through the Eastern Mediterranean, South China Sea and briefly in the Gulf of Oman. The ship supported different exercises and interacted with a number of NATO Allies and partner countries and other regional partners.
STRIKFORNATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, is Supreme Allied Commander Europe's (SACEUR) premier, rapidly deployable and flexible, maritime power projection Headquarters, capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations.