"Derek Hitchins has had several careers. He served as an engineer officer in the RAF for 22 years, retiring as a wing commander. He worked in industry for some 17 years, variously as systems design manager, future projects manager, technical director, marketing director and business development director for systems companies. For five years, he taught integrated science and physics (plus singing and trampoline) in a grammar school. And he was a university professor for seven years, before being obliged to retire from full time academia on health grounds. Presently: author, consultant and occasional lecturer on systems, systems thinking, chaos and systems engineering – contemporary and ancient."