Nigel David Ward was born in Canada of 'RAF' parents in 1943 and joined the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as an Officer Cadet in 1962. After Basic Flying Training he completed his Fleet Air Arm training on Hunters and Sea Vixens before joining 892 Naval Air Squadron in 1969, where he flew the F-4K Phantom from the deck of the HMS Ark Royal. A qualified Air Warfare Instructor, he worked at the Ministry of Defence and in 1981 took command of 801 Naval Air Squadron in HMS Invincible. Commander Ward holds the Air Force Cross for services to maritime VSTOL aviation and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross in the Falklands Honours List.