Chris Reynolds has lived on St. Mary’s Island since 2013. He spent the majority of his career as a submarine Officer in the Royal Navy. He served in 2 submarines built in Chatham being HMS Ocelot and HMCS Okanagan before transferring to the nuclear flotilla where he served in the Polaris deterrent. Following his Commanding Officer course, he served as Executive Officer of the Polaris submarine HMS Revenge and was the Commanding Officer of HMS Otter. On coming ashore he served in the MOD & qualified FCIPD.
On leaving the RN, he worked for a global ocean cable laying Company before returning to public service as the HR Director of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Chris retired in 2014 shortly after the vesting of the National Crime Agency. Currently, he is a Governor of the Mid Kent College where amongst other duties he chairs the Risk & Audit Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Sir John Hawkins Hospital which is the oldest alms house in the country having been established by Royal Charter 426 years ago.
Chris maintains his submarine roots by helping the Historic Dockyard with some elements of HMS Ocelot including guide training.
Chris was the former Chairman of SMIRA until November 2020 when he relinquished the position to take up the Directorship role on the Chatham Maritime Trust Board effective 4th December 2020.