- About us
- Our structure
- Representative committees
- Armed Forces Committee
Armed Forces Committee
The Armed Forces Committee (AFC) represents and supports the interests of all BDA members working in the Armed Forces dental services, including MoD dentists (previously known as Civilian Dental Practitioners).
We act on behalf of all grades, from cadets through to accredited consultants. Working on behalf of dental officers, our AFC lobbies on a range of matters impacting armed forces dentists, from pay, conditions of service, right across to pensions. Part of this role involves developing strong working relationships within the Ministry of Defence and actively championing the needs of military dentists.
Our priorities
- Representing the interests of serving dental officers, MoD dentists and reservists
- Providing an annual submission of written and oral evidence to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB)
- Providing a paper of evidence as part of the BDA’s written submission to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) regarding the pay of CDPs.
Our team
Brian Chittick
Brian qualified from Dundee University and holds postgraduate Master’s degrees in Forensic Medicine, Defence Studies (psc(j)), and Dental Public Health. Brian served over 20 years as a Dental Officer in the Royal Navy, including operational and strategic roles in Defence Medical Services. After leaving the Navy in 2015, Brian joined NHS Shetland, progressing through key leadership roles including Dental Director and Medical Director. In 2023, Brian was appointed Chief Executive of NHS Shetland, where he continues to drive innovation and champion community-focused healthcare across the islands.

Voting members
Army Junior - Sun Kandhari
Army Senior - Fiona Cottrell
Navy Junior - Lauren Aboo
Navy Senior - Vacant
RAF Junior - Elliot Mason
RAF Senior - Penny Green
Reservist – Elaine Cook
Retired Officer - Surgeon Captain (D) Mike Gall RN
MoD Dentists (2 seats)
Rachel O’Riordan
Sarah Mapplebeck
Non-voting members
GDPC Cross-representative – Robert Middlefell
Elliot Rhodes is co-opted onto the committee due to his position as Defence Civilian Medical Adviser for MoD Dentists.
The Chair of the British Medical Association Armed Forces Committee or their representative attends. There is also a representative from the Armed Forces Group and the Students Committee.
Get involved and get in touch
The Committee meets three times a year and there are many advantages to getting involved. You can actively influence BDA policymaking and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills. The Committee has distinct seats to represent different branches within the armed forces and these are made for a three-year period at the start of the triennium process.
For more information about the committee and its current work programme, or if you wish to raise an issue with the committee, please contact [email protected]