New head of Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Captain David Eagles is to take over as the head of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary from Commodore Duncan Lamb at the end of October.

“My five years of service as Commodore RFA has seen significant change, and while there are still many challenges to be faced, I am confident that Capt Eagles will steer the RFA on a steady course and expand on our reputation as a highly valued support force to the Royal Navy,” said Cdre Lamb.

Capt Eagles, whose official title will be Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support, has served with the RFA for more than 30 years.

His initial sea training was conducted with the British Petroleum fleet, comprising 300,000 DWT tankers, large LNG carriers and smaller oil product carriers.

However, seeking more "excitement and variety", he joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1988 and has since served in a wide variety of operational sea-going roles and staff appointments.

Prior to taking up his promotion and appointment as COMRFA, his last sea-going command was RFA Fort Victoria, which, following a maintenance period, was re-generating and undergoing Basic Operational Sea Training at FOST in preparation for providing solid stores logistical seagoing support to the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Capt Eagles said: "I am thrilled and proud to be appointed head of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, one of the fighting arms of the Royal Navy.

“I look forward to working with our people to guide the RFA Service through the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, while continuing to deliver on world-wide operations and positioning the RFA Service for a bright and secure future."

Capt Eagles lives in West Devon with his wife Jacqueline and three Basset Hounds and walks on Dartmoor and the Cornish coastal footpath at every available opportunity.