MCM 1

Military experience

Born in Aberdeen in 1971, Andy Lamb was commissioned as a Warfare Officer in 1989. He took Command of the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron based in Scotland in November 2011.

His early career saw extensive sea service in a variety of surface ships. From a Ton Class Mine Sweeper to the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, he has been engaged in a broad range of Maritime Security Operations in Hong Kong, the Adriatic, Middle and Far East, Australasia, Mediterranean and UK Fishery Protection.

During this period he was selected to Commanded the Patrol Boat HMS Trumpeter in Gibraltar assisting with force protection of vessels transiting the Straits of Gibraltar following the terrorist attacks in September 2001.

After qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer (Above Water Warfare) in 2004, where he won the Commodore’s Warfare Prize, he deployed on NATO operations as Gunnery and Operations Officer in HMS Kent.

Remaining at sea, he went on to Command three Sandown Class Mine Counter Measures Vessels (HM Ships Ramsey, Pembroke and Shoreham) operating in home waters and in the Arabian Gulf.

He has also completed a number of Staff assignments including an appointment as a Squadron Navigation officer, two periods as part of operational battle staffs and one in a Joint Service training role. As Flag Lieutenant to the Commander of the United Kingdom Task Group, he saw operations around the world culminating in a Task Force global deployment that included the handover of Hong Kong sovereignty to China in 1997.

Later in his career, as a plans officer to the Commander of the UK Amphibious Forces he again operated around the world and in 2006 was seconded to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines for deployment to Afghanistan. Based in Lashkar Gah, he was the Provincial Reconstruction Team Chief of Staff coordinating cross-governmental operations, for which he was awarded a Commander-in-Chief Fleet Commendation.

In 2008 in the Joint Service environment, he was the Planning, Information Operations and Media Officer to the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff.

Most recently Commander Lamb completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College Shrivenham.

Married with two young children, his interests include coaching tag rugby, windsurfing, skiing and fly-fishing.