HMS Express

Military experience

Born in 1983, Ben Power joined the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer in 2002. Basic and specialist training occurred onboard a variety of platforms, which resulted in his first assignment as Gunnery Officer in HMS Shoreham in 2005.

Commencing a career in Air Defence, Power sub-specialised as a Fighter Controller and joined HMS Edinburgh’s warfare team in early 2007. A busy 18 months followed including OST and deployment to the Middle and Far East conducting counter narcotics, anti-piracy and FPDA operations.

Returning to the UK in August 2008, Power joined HMS Daring’s inaugural crew for a short tour that saw extensive involvement in the initial AAW trials along with preparations for the first Type 45 OST. For his efforts he received the NDA award for 2009. Subsequently, Power joined the School of Fighter Control for an extremely rewarding assignment teaching tactical aircraft employment and Battle Space Management before commencing a flying exchange with the RAF onboard the E3-D Sentry AWACS.

Awarded the Mattyear trophy for top student, Power graduated from 54 (R) Sqn (E3D OCU) in early 2010 and joined No 8 Sqn at RAF Waddington shortly thereafter. The following 18 months were spent outside of the UK participating in multi-national exercises in Europe and North America and flying combat missions in support of Operations Deference, Odyssey Dawn, Unified Protector, and Ellamy, including supporting the evacuation of UK nationals from Libya, enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1973 and maintaining a continuous NATO AWACS orbit.

Deploying to Afghanistan with the USMC, Power spent the latter half of 2011 in Helmand Province working as a Tactical Air Controller with the USMC’s 2D Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Herrick. Receiving a US Certificate of Commendation, Power was responsible for de-conflicting and routing over 25000 aircraft within southern Afghanistan and co-ordinating multiple Joint Fires in support of UK, US and ISAF units. Upon returning from Afghanistan Power joined HMS Mersey for a short, yet very enjoyable, assignment conducting fishery protection.

Lt Power assumed command of HMS Express and Wales URNU in April 2012.