HMS Illustrious

Military experience

Joined Britannia Royal Naval College in 1987 graduating as a Naval College Entrant (Aviator). Following flying training he spent his early career at sea in various frigates and destroyers first as a Lynx Observer and then as an Officer of the Watch.

In the early 1990s he qualified as an Observer Instructor and assumed the role of Flight Commander in HM Ships Coventry and Manchester as well as instructing front line aircrew in 815 Naval Air Squadron.

After training as an anti-submarine warfare officer, he joined the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster as the Operations Officer. This was followed by an appointment on the Maritime Battle Staff which included Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

In 2003 he assumed command of the Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Severn taking her from commissioning through to operational patrols. He studied National Security, International Relations and Joint Military Operations at the United States Naval War College before working in the Directorate of Operational Capability at the Ministry of Defence.

He took command of the Type 22 Frigate HMS Chatham in 2006 and deployed to the Middle East on Op Telic before returning to the MoD (2009-10) advising on all aspects of defence wide rotary and fixed wing aviation during the recent SDSR.

He is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course (2011) and a Younger Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House. Aside from a busy home life, his interests include keeping fit, mountain biking and being an eternally optimistic Chelsea season ticket holder.

Captain Connell assumed command of HMS Illustrious on 5 January 2012.