London, England, United Kingdom, October 2025 — Leonardo, a global leader in aerospace, defence, and security, has announced the appointment of Donald Ridley as its new Chief Human Factors Specialist. With more than three decades of distinguished experience in human factors engineering, organizational psychology, and safety-critical systems, Ridley brings deep expertise in optimizing human performance within complex technological environments.
Ridley joined Leonardo earlier this year as Principal Human Factors Engineer, where he led initiatives focused on human-system integration, ergonomics, and cognitive engineering in mission-critical operations. His promotion to Chief Human Factors Specialist reflects Leonardo’s continued emphasis on innovation, safety, and human-centred design across its advanced defence and aerospace platforms.
Prior to his transition to Leonardo, Ridley had an extensive academic career with Oxford Brookes University, where he spent more than eight years in senior leadership roles, including Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor – Planning and Development and Associate Dean, Strategy and Development. Under his leadership, the institution advanced its research and development agenda, global partnerships, and faculty strategy. He continues his association with the university as Professor Emeritus, contributing to academic and research collaborations in human factors and organizational development.
Beyond academia, Ridley has also dedicated his expertise to community development and social enterprise. He has served as a Board Member and Trustee at Refugee Resource, where he advised on social enterprise and therapeutic mentoring programs, and previously supported the West Essex Alcohol & Drugs Service (ADAS) as Director and Trustee, promoting community health and engagement initiatives.
Earlier in his career, Ridley held several pioneering positions in human factors and applied psychology. At the University of East London, he served for 15 years as Principal Lecturer and later as Director of Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Psychology, where he led international development initiatives and collaborative partnerships. Prior to academia, he was Principal Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, focusing on human factors research and postgraduate supervision.
Ridley’s career began in safety-critical industries, working as a Human Factors Specialist with Nuclear Electric, where he contributed to error prevention in high-risk operational environments, and earlier as a Psychologist with the Royal Aerospace Establishment (MOD), focusing on human-machine interface design and aviation ergonomics for future aircraft systems.
His appointment at Leonardo underscores his lifelong dedication to advancing the integration of human performance, technology, and safety across global systems.
About Leonardo
Leonardo is a global security and aerospace company specializing in Aerospace, Defence, and Security (AD&S) solutions. With over 60,000 employees worldwide, the company operates across Italy, the UK, Poland, and the United States, and maintains a commercial presence in more than 150 countries. Leonardo plays a critical role as a technological and industrial partner to governments, defence administrations, and private enterprises worldwide.
In 2024, Leonardo reported consolidated revenues of €17.8 billion, new orders worth €20.9 billion, and R&D investments exceeding €2.5 billion. The company’s innovation strategy is anchored on four core pillars — innovation, continuous research, digitalisation, and sustainability — reflecting its commitment to shaping the future of integrated defence and security systems.
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