HMS York

Military experience

Commander Rex Cox was born in Germany in 1969 and educated at Eastbourne College. Having spent his formative years in the Sultanate of Oman, he joined the Royal Navy as a Naval College Entrant in 1988.

Following Fleet Training in HM Ships Achilles and Ariadne, which included a circumnavigation of the world, he joined HMS Kellington as an Officer of the Watch and Gunnery Officer, where he was involved in both Fisheries Protection and Northern Ireland patrol duties.

In 1993 as the Communications and Boarding Officer in HMS Cardiff, he participated in UN embargo operations in both the Adriatic and Gulf. Navigation training followed, before taking up duties as Navigating Officer of HMS Exeter. In autumn 1996, he commenced an exchange appointment with the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Fast Patrol Boat Flotilla. Serving in Torpedo and Gun Boats as both Navigating and Executive Officer, this thoroughly rewarding 2 year appointment culminated with him attending the FPB Commanding Officers’ Course.

After a brief period of staff training, he qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer (Above Water Warfare) before joining HMS Sheffield in 2000, where he assumed the duties of Operations Officer during a period of counter-drugs operations in the Caribbean. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 2001 and, after further specialist training as an Anti-Air Warfare Officer, he joined HMS Liverpool in 2002 as Anti-Air Warfare and Operations Officer at a time when the Ship saw service as the Fleet Flagship escort during Operation TELIC 1 (Iraq). In late 2003, he became the senior instructor on the Principal Warfare Officers’ (PWO) Course at the Maritime Warfare School, where he was responsible for implementing the ‘PWO Evolution’, a major restructuring of the course, whilst delivering warfare training for some 80 students.

In June 2005 he took Command of the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Severn and spent a particularly rewarding 2 years conducting Fisheries Protection in UK Home Waters. Following this, he joined the staff of the Commander UK Maritime Forces in May 2007 where he deployed again to Iraq as part of Task Force 158 with responsibility for training the Iraqi Navy and Marines in the Force Protection of Iraq’s strategic oil terminals.

Selected for promotion to Commander in 2008, he graduated from the Advanced Command and Staff Course, before commanding HMS Manchester in 2010 prior to her decommissioning in February 2011. After a short Staff job in Navy Command HQ, he assumed Command of HMS York in August 2011.

He is married and lives in Hampshire with his wife and their young daughter in an aged residence, which demands constant attention. His spare time is spent sailing, shooting and maintaining close links with Norway.