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Nick Goddard

A man stood with his arms folded against a burgandy wall with RAF division plaque in the background.

Course designer

“My role gives me the opportunity to influence meaningful change in leadership training while working with a diverse range of people. “The ability to challenge existing processes, implement improvements, and see tangible results is both rewarding and motivating.”

Nick Goddard is a course designer within the Royal Air Force Division (RAFD), part of the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC).

As a course designer, Nick ensures the Intermediate Officer Development Programme (IODP) is designed, delivered, and evaluated effectively to meet evolving defence standards and operational needs. He is also the thread-lead for leadership, one of four threads that form the IODP syllabus, also including command, management and air/space power.

Nick also works on refining educational strategies and enhancing Internal Validation (InVal) processes. Over the past year, he has worked on a project to align the question sets for all RAF Division courses, as well as provided a range of qualitative and quantitative outputs from the InVal questionnaires.

“Collaboration with key stakeholders, internal (JSCSC, wider Defence Academy) and external (Tedder Academy and other subject matter experts), informs how I update course content and integrate modern methodologies into leadership development. “Analysing qualitative and quantitative data is a key factor in ensuring continuous improvement processes are evidence-based.”

Through scenario-based learning, course updates, and InVal improvements, Nick is helping to shape the training and education landscape for future defence leaders.

“My role enhances the delivery of officer development, ensuring that leadership training is both forward-thinking and practically applicable.”

Outside his main role, Nick is the diversity and inclusion (D&I) officer for RAFD. He has delivered D&I workshops to the whole division, to improve staff knowledge on policies and procedures. Through his work, he aims to promote an inclusive learning environment that fosters cultural awareness and equitable leadership.

Nick also volunteers as a squadron commander with the RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC) and a mental health advisor for Dorset and Wiltshire Wing.

The RAFAC provides young people with unique opportunities for leadership, aviation, and personal development, instilling values of resilience, teamwork, and service.

“My experience in the RAFAC directly complements my work at the Defence Academy.”

In both roles, Nick is responsible for the education of individuals at different stages of their leadership journey; from cadets taking on their first leadership responsibilities to refining officers’ command, leadership and management skills.

“This dual perspective allows me to apply best practices from both youth development and professional military education, ensuring leadership training is engaging and effective across a wide range of experience.”
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