Commanding Officer

Stephen Murdoch joined the Royal Navy as a supply and secretariat officer in 1980.

He served in HMS London, RFA Diligence (stationed permanently in San Carlos Water in the Falkland Islands) and HMS York, during the first Gulf War.

Other drafts include supply officer of HMS Gloucester for two years and Commander Logistics on assault ship HMS Fearless.

Appointments ashore have included assistant secretary to the First Sea Lord, military assistant to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff and executive assistant to the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.

Promoted to Captain in 2006, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff in the Joint Supply Chain, an organisation comprising over 6500 personnel and charged with delivering transportation requirements for MOD personnel, storage and movement of equipment and spare parts, procurement of a variety of commodities and disposal of equipment and items no longer required by the military.

Before taking charge of HMS Raleigh, Capt Murdoch served as the executive assistant to the First Sea Lord for two years.

A keen sportsman who has been involved in rugby union for most of his life, playing for too long before coaching for a number of years and then retiring to the stand. He was appointed President of Royal Navy Rugby League in 2008 and is by choice a keen golfer and, by necessity, a regular gardener.

He is married to Alyson and they have one daughter and one son, both currently at university; their family home is in Somerset.