A former police commander in East Cornwall has joined the board of one of the county’s leading institutions.

John Green is one of two new governors of Truro and Penwith College. He and Lucy Edge will join the board of the organisation from January.

Lucy’s role will be that of Chair Designate, to succeed the present Chair Ellen Winser MBE when she steps down in the summer of 2019, having served in that role since 2004.

Lucy, a physicist and engineer and a leading figure in Cornwall’s growing space industry, said: ‘We all have responsibility to equip Cornwall, especially our young people, with the skills and ambition they need to thrive in their careers and lives so I am delighted to become Chair Designate, and am looking forward to being able to make a difference for the College and for Cornwall.’

Lucy set up the Avanti Communications Spacecraft Operations Centre, which operates a fleet of satellites providing global communications, and has managed the launch of rockets bearing satellites, now controlled from Cornwall.

She is also a non-executive director at Eden Project Limited and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, reflecting her passion for economic growth, inclusion and skills development.

John Green is a retired Devon and Cornwall police superintendent who spent most of his service with the force in Cornwall.

The proud father of two sons, one of whom was a student at the College, said his son’s experience as a student and user of the College’s services will be useful.

‘I am looking forward to the challenges of being a Board member and to contribute and play a part in maintaining the outstanding success the college is enjoying,’ he said.

John, a former school governor and board member for a large housing provider in the county, is also a voluntary board member and trustee on two charitable organisations. He was also a trustee and team leader with ShelterBox.