HMS Penzance

Military experience

Alex Bush was educated in Northamptonshire and fulfilled his boyhood ambition when he joined the Royal Navy in 1986 as a Seaman Officer.

During his time at Britannia Royal Naval College, he qualified as a Ship’s Diver. Shortly after he joined HMS Phoebe, which was involved in the rescue of the victims at the North Sea disaster, Piper Alpha.

As the Diving Officer of HMS Active, he qualified as an Officer of the Watch in 1990 and quickly went on to qualify as a Mine Clearance Diver in 1991. After 2 successful years as Operations Officer of the Mine Hunters HMS Bicester, Atherstone and Berkeley, he became a Mine Warfare Course Officer and Lead Instructor in Precise Navigation at the Maritime Warfare School. Before taking Command of HMS Brecon in 1997, in her Northern Island Patrol Boat conversion refit, he served as the Executive Officer and Fish Boarding Officer.

Following the Intermediate Staff Course, and promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 1999, he completed the Principle Warfare Officer (PWO) Course and joined HMS Coventry as the PWO and Operations Officer; this included her final deployment to the West Indies with the capture of £40 million of Class A drugs.

As Squadron Operations Officer to the First Mine Counter Measures (1MCM) Squadron, in 2003, he was at the forefront of Maritime Operations. As part of the Forward Command Element of the Coalition MCM Force during OP TELIC, he co-ordinated the mine clearance, which ensured the safe passage of humanitarian aid to Umm Qasr, Iraq.

He returned to the Maritime Warfare School in 2005 to teach Advanced Mine Warfare, and a later took command of the Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron and HMS Pursuer. In addition, he formed and commanded the Cyprus Joint Maritime Unit in 2007, where he had the privilege to command soldiers, sailors, and royal marines. A graduate of the UK Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2010, he also gained a Masters of Art in Defence Studies.

He assumed command of HMS Ramsey in August 2010.

Alex is married to Valerie, has 2 daughters and an energetic gundog. He is actively involved in his community and church life, and enjoys a variety of water sports, including most types of sailing, windsurfing and Royal Navy Surf Kayaking.