About SpecNav.Global: AI Strategy, Leadership & Execution
SpecNav.Global is an AI strategy, governance and training consultancy based in Annapolis, Maryland, founded in 2024 by former Royal Navy Specialist Navigator and warship commander Mark Heward.
We help leaders strengthen decision-making, improve execution and build systems that perform under pressure. We work in person across Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia, and online with organizations of every size, anywhere.
Our Mission
Enabling organizations to navigate AI complexity with agility and confidence.
We deliver that mission through four priorities:
Leadership that creates clarity in uncertainty
Operational excellence that improves execution and accountability.
Resilience that prepares organizations for disruption.
AI strategy and governance that enhance, not replace, human decision-making.
“We believe success is not defined by technology or strategy alone. It is defined by readiness, alignment, and execution.”
Our Values
The Principles Behind Every Engagement
Kaizen (Continuous Improvement)
We believe improvement is ongoing, not occasional.
Small refinements create long-term operational advantage.
We never stop improving systems, people, or processes.
Leadership
We develop leadership that performs in real conditions, not theory.
Strong leadership creates direction, stability, and accountability under pressure.
Leadership is demonstrated through action, not title.
Integrity
We operate with transparency and consistency in everything we do.
Trust is built through honesty, clarity, and accountability.
We do not exaggerate outcomes or overstate capability.
Adaptability
We help organizations respond to change with structure and confidence.
Adaptability is not reaction—it is preparation applied in real time.
Resilience
We build readiness before disruption occurs.
Resilient organizations remain effective under pressure because they are prepared, not surprised.
Collaboration
We work alongside clients, not above them.
Effective solutions come from shared understanding and mutual respect.
We listen before we advise.
Excellence
We focus on outcomes that can be measured in real performance.
Execution matters more than ideas.
Excellence is consistency under pressure.
Who We Are
SpecNav Global is not a vendor.
Not a software provider.
Not a marketing or advisory layer without operational depth.
SpecNav is a trusted advisor for organizations navigating:
- Leadership challenges
- Operational complexity
- Organizational transformation
- Governance and accountability systems
- AI strategy, AI implementation and governance
- Continuous improvement
“We help organizations improve how they approach challenges, make decisions, and execute a strategy.”
Meet the Founder: Mark Heward
Mark Heward founded SpecNav.Global after 22 years as a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy.
A qualified Warfare Officer, he served as an Officer of the Watch before qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer and specializing as a Specialist Navigator (SpecN). He navigated warships globally and went on to command them at sea, where the margin for error is small and a plan has to hold under pressure.
Mark has the honor to meet many dignitaries and VIPs across the world, including serving with Prince William in HMS IRON DUKE in 2008. His highest personal honor occurred in March 2018 when he served as Guard Officer for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the decommissioning of HMS Ocean, then Britain’s largest operational warship.
Today he brings that same discipline to AI strategy, governance and training. He helps leaders decide where AI genuinely fits, build a governed roadmap and train their teams to use it safely. Mark calls himself an “Implementologist” as the plan on paper matters less than whether it actually gets done.
Connect with Mark on LinkedInFollow SpecNav.Global on LinkedIn
Qualifications and Affiliations
- Qualified Royal Navy Warfare Officer (2003) and Principal Warfare Officer (2013)
- Command Qualified (2010) as a Master Mariner under the MOD’s STCW II/2
- Commanded HMS DASHER and latterly Faslane Patrol Boat Squadron
- Qualified Specialist Navigator (2012)
- Commanded MCM2 Crew 1 in HM Ships HURWORTH, LEDBURY, CHIDDINGFOLD and CATTISTOCK.
- Masters of Science in IT and Management, Sheffield Hallam University
- Postgraduate Diplomas include Applied Navigation, University of Plymouth
- Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation (AFRIN) and member of the Nautical Institute
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, Harvard University Division of Continuing Education (Leadership and Team Coaching for Performance)
- More than 20 years in learning and development, transformation and global delivery
- Member of the Annapolis Business Network and BNI
Read more about our approach on What Is SpecNav?
Our Experience
SpecNav’s perspective is shaped by founder Mark Heward’s experience in environments where performance, accountability, and execution matter. Our background spans maritime operations, military leadership, business management, organizational transformation, and strategic communications.
These environments share a common requirement: leaders must make informed decisions, align teams, communicate clearly, and execute effectively under changing conditions. From high-reliability operational settings to complex business environments, we have seen firsthand that sustainable success depends on leadership, discipline, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
Our experience also includes marketing and communications, recognizing that even the best strategies fail when people do not understand the mission, the objectives, or their role in achieving them. Clear communication creates alignment, supports change, and enables organizations to move forward with confidence.
This combination of operational, leadership, business, and communication experience allows us to help organizations navigate complexity, strengthen performance, and prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Mark Heward as Guard Officer for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the decommissioning of HMS Ocean, HMNB Devonport, 27 March 2018.
Image © Crown Copyright. Read the original Royal Navy news story: HMS Ocean leaves service with a royal farewell.
About SpecNav.Global: Common Questions
Who founded SpecNav.Global?
Mark Heward founded SpecNav.Global in 2024. He served 22 years as a commissioned Royal Navy officer, qualified as a Specialist Navigator and commanded warships at sea. He holds a Master Mariner qualification under the MOD’s STCW II/2 for the Royal Navy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Navigation from the University of Plymouth.
Where is SpecNav.Global based?
SpecNav.Global is based in Annapolis, Maryland. We work in person across Anne Arundel County, Baltimore, Washington DC and Northern Virginia, and online with organizations anywhere.
What does SpecNav.Global do?
SpecNav.Global is an AI strategy, governance and training consultancy. We help leaders decide where AI fits, build a governed AI roadmap, train their teams to use AI safely and strengthen the leadership and operations that make change stick.
Why does a Royal Navy navigation background matter for AI strategy?
Navigation is about making sound decisions with incomplete information: know where you are, plan the route, check progress and adjust. SpecNav applies that same discipline to AI adoption, so plans are practical, governed and hold up under pressure.
Let’s Start a Conversation
SpecNav Global works with leaders who are responsible for performance under pressure.
If your organization is focused on strengthening leadership, improving execution, or preparing AI-enabled operations, we should talk.
Prefer email or phone? Visit our Contact page.