Personnel
Ronald E. Hawkins
Special EOD Projects Manager
Ron completed 20 years service in the RAAF in 1984. A former RAAF officer with lengthy experience in weapons engineering and explosive ordnance disposal, Ron possesses considerable expertise in the field of UXO detection and demolition. His Air Force duties included responsibility for several area clearance operations as well as the disposal of ammunition from wartime ammunition dumps. He has been trained in all aspects of ammunition and explosives technology, both in Australia and the United States at Indian Head. His experience included the planning; direct supervision and post-activity clean up of trials for aerial cluster weapons, a background which stood him in good stead to manage Milsearch’s operations in Indochina.
Since leaving the RAAF, Ron has continued his involvement with UXO operations. Working firstly in Commonwealth Government explosives factories, Ron later established Australasian Explosive Hazard Reductions Pty. Ltd and then joined Milsearch in 1990. From 1993 through to September 2000, he served as Milsearch’s Manager in the Vientiane Office, where his practical experience, undoubted technical skill and ability to relate to Lao culture has made a major contribution to Milsearch’s position as the pre-eminent EOD company operating in Indochina.
During the period November 2000-December 2005, Ron continued with Milsearch as a principal operations officer and international business development manager, operating on Milsearch’s more complex and demanding projects throughout Asia, Australia and the SW Pacific. Several of these projects utilized complex technological approaches to over come difficult site geologies to meet independent EPA audit and 3rd party review requirements.
Ron again served as Manager of Milsearch’s Lao Joint Venture operations from December 2005 through until March 2009. Since returning to Australia, Ron has been assisting Milsearch on a part-time basis from his base in Brisbane, Queensland.
