John Rawlins

Sir John Stuart Pepys Rawlins (12 May 1922 – 27 July 2011) was a Royal Navy officer and pioneer in the field of diving medicine.

Royal Navy Rawlins was the son of Colonel Stuart Rawlins. He was educated at Wellington College, read medicine at University College, Oxford and trained at Barts, graduating in 1945. Soon after, Rawlins began his career as a surgeon lieutenant Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve officer and was assigned to the Colossus class aircraft carrier in 1947. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1955 for his work with protective helmets, and was promoted to the rank of surgeon commander while he continued his research at the IAM until 1961.

Rawlins served as the RN Director of Health and Research from 1975 to 1977 and later as the RN Medical Director General from 1977 to 1980 when he retired as surgeon vice admiral.

Other honours In 1971, Rawlins also served as the first "past president" on the founding executive committee for the European Underwater and Baromedical Society.

The Gilbert Blane Medal of the Royal College of Surgeons was awarded in 1974 for his work on cold in diving.