Navy News
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Royal Navy personnel recognised by HM the King in Honours
12 June 2026
Men and women from across the Royal Navy have had their hard work and commitment recognised by His Majesty the King.
Dozens of personnel from the naval endeavour – including reservists and civil servants – have been named in the King’s Birthday and Operational Honours.
Their efforts – from deployments overseas to implementing new technology and overseeing the future of the navy – has result in honours for what many describe as moments of pride for both them and their families.
The list includes sailors at the heart of the UK Carrier Strike Group’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific last year as well as submariners who crew Vanguard-class submarines – one is always deployed conducting the UK’s nuclear deterrent on Operation Relentless, a mission going back more than 50 years.
Sailors committed to improving the environment through their work have also been recognised alongside those who have supported overseas territories with humanitarian work in the wake of Nature’s wrath.
Captain Philip Burgess receives the OBE for his work in supporting the construction of the Fleet’s first Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow.
As the senior naval officer of the ship, the first of class, his citation said he “played a key role in improving UK shipbuilding performance at the waterfront and with international partners”.
It added: “He led delivery of the first Type 26 and built a unified ethos across the support organisation, strengthening links with MOD teams and industry. He encouraged his team to embrace opportunities offered by this new class, fostering a positive, inquisitive culture.”
Awarded the OBE in the Operational Honours is Commander Benjamin Dorrington for his command of Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless.
“He displayed exceptional leadership during Operation Highmast, transforming HMS Dauntless into a mission-ready air defence unit capable of protecting the Royal Navy flagship in high-threat environments,” his citation reads.
“Despite compressed timelines, he balanced ship regeneration and crew training, ensuring Dauntless was fully prepared for deployment. As Air and Missile Defence Commander, he led rigorous training to counter advanced threats, uniting UK, and international forces into an effective unit.”
Captain Keith Stephenson earns an OBE for his work in the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office – the navy’s experts in getting innovative equipment to the frontline.
He has “played a pivotal role in advancing autonomous systems across organisational, national and international levels, demonstrating ambition, energy and determination.
“His operationally-significant projects now have international impact, driven directly by his leadership and personal effort.”
Capt Stephenson said: “Having spent much of the past ten years working to deliver emergent technology projects for wider Defence, the Royal Navy and latterly to Ukraine I, feel incredibly honoured to receive this award, particularly when I am continually humbled by the dedication, drive and resourcefulness of the people that I am privileged to work with from across the MOD, industry and academia.”
Elsewhere, Lieutenant (Sea Cadet Corps) Joshua McDermott, currently Commanding Officer of Ellesmere Port Sea Cadet Corps Unit, has been made an MBE.
In a decade of volunteering, he has provided a committed service to his local community. He has transformed two struggling units and has directly helped more than 175 young people.
He said: “I am deeply honoured and genuinely humbled to have been awarded an MBE. Volunteering with the Sea Cadets has always been about giving young people opportunities, confidence and experiences that help them realise their potential, so to receive recognition in this way is both unexpected and incredibly special.
“My family are absolutely delighted. They have supported me throughout many years of volunteering, often putting up with evenings, weekends and holidays being dedicated to cadet activities, so this honour is very much something we will celebrate together.
“Looking back, I am particularly proud of the work undertaken to turn around two Sea Cadet units and help create environments where young people can thrive. Seeing cadets develop, gain qualifications, build confidence and go on to achieve things they never thought possible has always been the greatest reward.”
Royal Naval Reservist Lieutenant Adam Lappin has also been made an MBE for his work as a Media Operations Specialist but also in outreach projects both within the navy and his community.
“It was a real shock to get the phone call, and it has not really sunk in,” he said.
“After 25 years in the Royal Navy, it is nice to see that the commitment to not only the Naval role is recognised, but also time spent fostering relationships with the Sea Cadet Corps – I’m a former Sea Cadet in Bury and Radcliffe Unit myself – and helping to develop future generations, valued members of society and prospective new service personnel in and around the north west of England.”
He added: “My family will see this as a fantastic achievement. My wife, who is also a serving Royal Naval Reservist and a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer in Preston Sea Cadets, sees the work that goes into this and I could not do what I do without her support and assistance… I see this as very much a team effort and recognition for both our efforts.”
He said standout moments of his career included taking part in Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003, commissioning as into the Logistics Branch as a Logistics Officer in 2009 and playing ice hockey for the Royal Navy, winning two Inter Service titles as a player.
Knight Commander in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)
Vice Admiral Andrew Kyte
Companion in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Rear Admiral Robert Lauchlan
Major General Paul Lynch
Rear Admiral Christopher Shepherd
Commander in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Commodore David Filtness (Operational)
Rear Admiral Daniel D’Silva
Captain Adrian Coghill
Officer in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Commander Benjamin Dorrington (Operational)
Commander James Mitchell (perational)
Captain Philip Burgess Commander James McBratney
Commander Benjamin Smith
Captain Keith Stephenson
Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Lieutenant Commander Aaron Coates
Lieutenant Commander Phoebe Hall
Major Rupert Johnstone-Burt
Lieutenant Adam Lappin RNR
Warrant Officer 1 Logistics (Police) Dean Latham (Retired)
Lieutenant (Sea Cadet Corps) Joshua McDermott
Warrant Officer 2 Warfare (Electronic Warfare) William Penric
Commander Adam Prevett
Warrant Officer 1 Logistics (Supply Chain) Lee Reeves
Lieutenant Commander Michael Rydiard
Ordinary Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC)
Chief Petty Officer Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Laura Fallon
Associate Member of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)
Lieutenant Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Megan Muirhead
King’s Volunteer Reserve Medal (KVRM)
Warrant Officer Second Class Robert Cooper RMR
King’s Commendation for Valuable Service (KCVS)
Commander Mathew Gee (Operational)
Lieutenant Commander Glyn Duffell (Operational)
Lieutenant Commander Anya Shepherd (Operational)
Lieutenant Jake Robertson (Operational)
Meritorious Service Medal – June 2026
Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) A Brown
Warrant Officer First Class M Chitty
Warrant Officer First Class L Cockerton
Warrant Officer First Class A Dewsnip
Warrant Officer First Class L Hoddy
Warrant Officer Second Class R Kirk
Warrant Officer First Class D Maddocks
Warrant Officer Second Class S May
Warrant Officer Second Class C McClure
Sub Lieutenant F McCutcheon Royal Navy
Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Weapons Engineering Submarines) J Parker
Warrant Officer Second Class G Partridge
Warrant Officer First Class M Robinson
Lieutenant Commander N Simpson Royal Navy
Warrant Officer First Class A Slack
Warrant Officer Second Class S Smith
Warrant Officer First Class T Smith
Warrant Officer First Class M Swift
Warrant Officer First Class D Thornhill
Colour Sergeant C Tucker
Warrant Officer First Class E Williams
Warrant Officer First Class D Wilson
Warrant Officer Second Class S Woodhouse
Commendations:
The following commendations have been awarded:
In conjunction with Operational Honours
Joint Commander’s Commendation
Commander J Bretell Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander D Ferguson Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander M Ford Royal Navy
Warrant Officer First Class S Mackie
Chief Petty Officer (Mine Warfare) L Roberts
Captain A Spencer Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander O Toozs-Hobson Royal Navy
Joint Commander’s Commendation Team
HMS Prince of Wales Fighter Controllers
In conjunction with Birthday Honours
First Sea Lord’s Commendation
Major R T Adkins Royal Marines
Warrant Officer Second Class M Ashcroft
Sarah Burke
Commander C Chew Royal Navy
Chief Petty Officer Logistician (Catering Services) T Collins
Lieutenant Commander (Sea Cadet Corps) W Elliott
Lieutenant J Hammond Royal Navy
Colour Sergeant S Lax
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander A Lee Royal Navy
Warrant Officer First Class M Millward
Lieutenant Commander P Proctor Royal Navy
Warrant Officer Second Class E Sheppard
Commander N Winstone Royal Navy
Royal Navy Commendation
Lieutenant Commander A Benzie Royal Navy
Chief Petty Officer (Coxswain)(Submarines) L Davis
Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Weapons Engineering Submarines) J Drummond
Captain J King Royal Marines
Leading Hand (Mine Warfare) L Marshall
Simon Porter
Lieutenant Commander T Sleight Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander J Smith Royal Navy
Alexander Todd
Lieutenant Commander T Wade-Sellen Royal Navy
Sergeant R Williams Royal Marines
Leading Aircraft Controller J Wilcox
Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Technician (Mechanical) D Roberts
Royal Navy Team Commendations
HMS Vengeance Engineering team:
Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) M Forrest
Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) C Rice
Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) J Stretch
Mar-Works, Navy Digital Integration & Network Expertise Team:
Carbon 60:-
Dave McInerney
Paul Anderson
Darren Brettle
Stefan Bullivant
Geoffrey Howie
Oliver Sinden
Mark Warman
Frazer-Nash:-
James Twycross
Royal Navy:-
Warrant Officer Second Class R Ralphs
Marine T Budge
Standing Joint Commander Commendations
Lieutenant W N D Watson Royal Navy
Commander Joint Aviation Command Commendations
Leading Airman (Aircraft Handler) T W Bundock
Colour Sergeant J Cooper Royal Marines
Warrant Officer Second Class M Jenkins
Leading Air Engineering Technician (Avionics) T Lewis
Lieutenant Commander T Nason Royal Navy
Leading Air Engineering Technician (Mechanical) J Plumer
Lieutenant C Roberts Royal Navy
Lieutenant J Robinson Royal Navy
Foreign Decorations to Royal Navy Recipients
NATO Meritorious Service Medal
Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) M R Impey
Lieutenant Colonel A J Liva Royal Marines
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) J B Lockhart Royal Marines
Captain S F Simpson Royal Navy
United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer)
Rear Admiral M E J Anderson CBE Royal Navy
Brigadier B E Halsted MBE Royal Marines
United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Legionnaire)
Captain D J S McKnight Royal Navy
United States Air Medal
Lieutenant (Retired) D Telfer Royal Navy
Member in the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
John Ambler (Royal Marines Band Service Historian)
Anne Carr (Head of Grants, Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity)
British Empire Medal (BEM) (Civil Division)
John Peel (Chairman North Devon Branch, Royal Marines Association)
Terrence Whitty (Royal Navy Association Mentor, HMS Raleigh)