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Decorated Navy veteran George McGuire has been appointed as chief executive officer for Tasmanian advanced manufacturer Sentinel Boats.
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George McGuire brings 28 years of experience from senior leadership roles in the Royal Australian Navy, including serving as commanding officer of two warships and extensive operational and major project experience.
McGuire, a former general manager of operations and delivery as well as business development for the Australian arm of QinetiQ, said he was looking forward to the challenge of sustainably scaling up Sentinel Boats’ operations.
“Sentinel Boats is a fantastic example of Australian innovation and sovereign defence capability,” he said.
“From humble beginnings building indestructible workboats, the Sentinel Boats team has created a product line in The Sentinel that is truly unique and, in my experience, outperforms anything in its class anywhere in the world.
“As a proud Tasmanian, I am honoured to have this opportunity to return home and invest my skills and experience in expanding Sentinel Boats’ national and international reach, particularly in defence, law enforcement and emergency response.”
Sentinel Boats was recently formed as a standalone entity from the former PFG to reflect a dedicated focus on building high-performance vessels for defence, law enforcement, and emergency services, along with workboats for maritime industries.
The company will use high-density polyethylene as a next-generation material with superior strength, durability, and ride characteristics for rapid response and defence applications. These applications will be designed for speed, stability, handling, and minimal personnel fatigue.
Sentinel Boats recently completed a third 12.5 metre high-speed littoral manoeuvre craft for the Royal New Zealand Navy, which will be exhibited at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition 2023 in Sydney from 7–9 November.
Sentinel Boats chair Chris Oldfield said McGuire brings a wealth of experience and international connections to the Sentinel Boats team.
“It is testament to the quality and reputation of our boats that we have been able to attract someone of George’s calibre to the role of CEO,” Oldfield said.
“The Sentinel is quite literally making waves in the defence and law enforcement industries and we don’t think there is anyone better qualified than George to capitalise on the immense opportunities for growth we have ahead of us.
“George has deep connections into the Australian and international defence sector and, after 28 years in the RAN, he is uniquely placed to anticipate and respond to the needs of our growing customer base.”
