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Royal Navy Commodore bids farewell to the Senior Service after a 42-year career
2 May 2025
After an exceptional 42-year tenure in the Royal Navy, Naval Regional Commander London and Eastern England, Commodore Rob Bellfield, has retired.
Commodore Bellfield concluded his final appointment as the Naval Regional Commander for London and Eastern England, a post he held for four years, with a formal handover to Commodore Tim Green at HMS President in London last week.
As Naval Regional Commander, Commodore Bellfield played a key role in maintaining and strengthening the Royal Navy’s presence across the region through active domestic engagement and national events. Acting as an ambassador and senior advocate for the Royal Navy, his visible leadership and commitment to public engagement were key to enhancing the service’s profile and fostering vital relationships with military and civilian partners in the London and Eastern England area.
An experienced Surface Warfare Officer, Commodore Bellfield specialised in navigation and anti-submarine operations, deploying on operations onboard destroyers and frigates and operating in every sphere of maritime operations in UK waters, the Far East, the Gulf, South Atlantic and the West Indies.
He was appointed Naval Regional Commander on 12 April 2021 and was honoured shortly thereafter with the position of Ordinary Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty the Queen on 19 April 2021.
Among many highlights in his career, Commodore Bellfield commanded the Combined Task Force Sentinel in 2020, leading a multinational maritime coalition in the Gulf and directing joint naval and air forces to protect critical merchant shipping routes through one of the world’s most strategically vital regions.
As I hand over my role as Regional Naval Commander for London and Eastern England to Commodore Tim Green, I want to thank everyone I served with for their unstinting support. I will certainly miss the Royal Navy family
Previously, as Commander of the Devonport Flotilla, he was responsible for preparing 15 Plymouth-based warships, including amphibious ships, frigates, and hydrographic vessels, for national and coalition operations around the globe. He also served as Executive Officer on HMS Ark Royal during her final commission, overseeing the regeneration of the UK’s maritime fixed-wing aviation capability with the Harrier fighter jets.
In a fitting end to his career, he left HMS President on an iconic body of water, the River Thames, escorted by the Metropolitan Police Marine Patrol Unit.
Reflecting on his naval career, Commodore Bellfield said: “It’s been an enormous privilege to serve in the Royal Navy for 42 years alongside so many outstanding people.
“As I reflect on so many rewarding jobs, including command at sea and ashore, I am most proud of the young men and women who I have been so fortunate to work with to achieve such success – ABs to WO1 and beyond, and Officer Cadets to Rear Admiral.”
He added: “As I hand over my role as Regional Naval Commander for London and Eastern England to Commodore Tim Green, I want to thank everyone I served with for their unstinting support. I will certainly miss the Royal Navy family.