Martin Connell (Royal Navy officer)

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Martin Connell
Commodore Martin Connell (cropped).jpg
Commodore Connell in 2014
Born1968 (age 53–54)
Yorkshire, United Kingdom[1]
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1987–present
RankVice Admiral
Service numberC034297Q[2]
Commands heldSecond Sea Lord
Fleet Air Arm
Amphibious Task Group
HMS Illustrious
HMS Chatham
HMS Severn
Battles/warsGulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire

Vice Admiral Martin John Connell, CBE (born 1968) is a senior Royal Navy officer currently serving as Second Sea Lord.

Naval career[]

Connell joined the Royal Navy in 1987 as a Lynx Observer. He then went on to become a Qualified Observer Instructor (QOI) at 702 Naval Air Squadron before becoming a Flight Commander on HMS Coventry and HMS Manchester, before instructing observers on 815 Naval Air Squadron.[3] He was given command of the offshore patrol vessel HMS Severn in 2003, of the frigate HMS Chatham in 2006, in which role he was deployed on Operation Telic, and of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 2012.[4]

Connell was promoted to commodore on 10 February 2015.[5] He went on to be appointed Commander Amphibious Task Group in 2015, and naval attaché in Washington, D.C. in 2016.[6] Since 2019, he has served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) as well as head of the Fleet Air Arm.[7] He is a recipient of the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with one clasp.[8]

Connell was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours.[9]

It was announced in January 2022, that Connell would become Second Sea Lord taking over from Vice Admiral Nick Hine.[10] On 12 January 2022, Connell formally took over as Second Sea Lord.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ "Fleet Air Arm". Royal Navy. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. ^ "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. p. 19008.
  3. ^ "Martin Connell - Royal Navy Biography" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Commodore Martin Connell" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  5. ^ "No. 61144". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 February 2015. p. 2726.
  6. ^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces Network. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. ^ "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. pp. 19008–19010.
  9. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N6.
  10. ^ "Royal Navy announces new Second Sea Lord". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. 5 January 2022.
  11. ^ "New Second Sea Lord officially welcomed to role". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
Military offices
Preceded by Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm
2019–2022
Preceded by Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
2022–present 		Incumbent
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