FORMER Second Sea Lord Vice-Admiral Sir David Steel has made his first visit to Gibraltar as governor of the Rock.
And days after being sworn in, he met members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment during a socially-distanced parade, which included members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, recruiting team, ceremonial light guns and supporting staff.
The governor, or His Excellency to give him his official title, later addressed troops, telling them he was delighted to meet them in his role as their commander in chief and looked forward to seeing more of them in future.
Adm Steel, 59, also signed the visitors’ book before calls with Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Dyson, who updated him on the regiment’s current activities and plans.
Adm Steel, who succeeds Royal Marine Lieutenant General Ed Davis, was due to have been appointed governor earlier this year but the move was delayed because of the current pandemic.
He had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy, holding number of senior posts and serving in the Falklands and Kosovo. He joined the Senior Service in 1979 and retired as Second Sea Lord in 2015.
His early career was spent in a variety of sea and shore appointments, including as the Fleet Legal Adviser. In December 1999, while serving in the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in support of operations in Kosovo and Macedonia earlier that year.
Prior to becoming Second Sea Lord, he served as Naval Secretary and Director of Personnel and Career Management; Director of Armed Forces Pay and Manning at the Ministry of Defence; Naval Base Commander Portsmouth; Director of Logistics and Director of Legal and Personnel Services at the RN. He also served as Aide-de-Camp to the Queen.
Adm Steel’s last role before moving to Gibraltar was chief executive of Leeds Castle in Kent, a job he has held for the last six years.
