Commander Richard Small Royal Navy

Commander Small was born in Sheffield in 1973 and was educated at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield.  Studying Engineering at University College, Durham University, he graduated in 1995 before joining the Navy as a Weapon Engineer in 1996.  During initial Officer training, he transferred to the Warfare Branch and completed Fleet Time in HMS PLOVER, Hong Kong Squadron and HMS COVENTRY.  At the end of Junior Warfare Officer training in 1997 he volunteered for submarines, completing his first compliment appointment in HMS TRIUMPH. 

Following navigation training in 2000 he joined HMS SCEPTRE in refit before becoming the Navigating Officer of HMS TRAFALGAR in 2001, deployed as part of OP VERITAS against the TALIBAN and AL QAIDA in Afghanistan.  On completion of Advanced Warfare Course in 2003, he returned to HMS TRAFALGAR as the Operations Officer, undertaking a full period of Operational Sea Training and a number of trials on new sensor equipment.  Selected for Submarine Command Course, and successfully completing this in September 2006, he was appointed to HMS VIGILANT (STARBOARD) as the Executive Officer.  Role transition saw this crew become HMS VENGEANCE (PORT) and after a further patrol he joined Flag Officer Sea Training’s organisation as the SSBN Command Rider. 

In May 2008 he was selected for promotion to Commander and Sea Command.  Commander Small assumed Command of HMS VENGEANCE (STARBOARD) in September 2009.