Naval Base Commander Portsmouth

Commissioned in 1990, he has served in a variety of ships (patrol vessels, minehunters, frigates and destroyers) as an Officer of the Watch, Navigating Officer and Operations Officer.

Early service included: countering smuggling and drugs off Hong Kong and in the Caribbean; protection duties in the Falklands and the Iran/Iraq Tanker War; embargo operations in the Adriatic following the collapse of Yugoslavia; and command of HMS Blazer and Southampton University Royal Navy Unit (1993/95).

He has had three operational tours in Iraq each of which was in command: as a Commander in HMS Norfolk imposing security (2003/04); ashore as a Captain in Umm Qasr with the Naval Transition Team training the Iraqi Navy (2006/07); and, latterly, as a Commodore, commanding a UK and US Task Force protecting Iraq’s offshore oil infrastructure and supporting transition to Iraqi forces (2010/11).

Service ashore includes Britannia Royal Naval College (1998/99) where he was responsible for the direction and oversight of University Royal Navy Units and sponsored undergraduates.  He had a lead planning role at PJHQ as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff J5 (2007/08) involving a range of contingency and counter-terrorist operations.

He has had several appointments in the Ministry of Defence covering a broad span of the Department’s business: as Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Defence (2000/02); the lead Policy, Resource and Programmer in the Equipment Plan Directorate (2004/06); and as Military Assistant to both the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and 2^nd Permanent Under Secretary (2008/09).

Sponsored as a University Cadet to read law at Southampton University (1986/89), his further education includes a call to the Bar in 1996, Advanced Command and Staff Course (1999/2000), an MA in International Relations and Defence Studies (2000), the Combined Forces Maritime Component Course (2010) and the Higher Command and Staff Course (2010).

He was awarded the Bronze Star medal by the United States’ Government following his command of the Naval Transition Team in Iraq.

He lives in Winchester with his wife, and four young boys who – unsurprisingly – keep them both busy.

He has represented the Royal Navy at squash and also enjoys sailing, mountain biking and skiing.