APPOINTMENT OF FIRST SEA LORD AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF FLEET

16 Apr 2002 11:11 AM

Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the following appointments:

Admiral Sir Alan West KCB DSC to be First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on 17 Sep 02. This appointment carries with it membership of the Defence Council and of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council.

Vice Admiral Sir Jonathon Band KCB to be promoted Admiral and appointed as Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and Commander Allied Naval Forces North on 2 Aug 02. This appointment carries with it membership of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council.

End

Notes to Editors:

1. Admiral West, 52, joined the Navy in 1965 and specialised as a Principal Warfare Officer. Promoted to Commander in 1980 he took command of HMS Ardent, taking it to the Falkland Islands where she was sunk in the successful operation to recapture them. He returned to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Naval Plans department where he was promoted to Captain in 1985. He commanded HMS Bristol from 1987 to 1988 before first heading the study into woman's integration and their service at sea at the MoD, and later becoming the Head of Maritime Intelligence. Graduating from the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1993 he undertook a further appointment in the MoD before being promoted to Rear Admiral in 1994. Appointed as Naval Secretary in 1994 and then Commander United Kingdom Task Group in 1996 he was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1997 when he took up the appointment as Chief of Defence Intelligence. He took up the appointment to Commander in Chief Fleet on promotion to Admiral in Nov 2000.

2. Admiral Band joined the Navy in 1967. He completed his Principal Warfare Officer training in 1977 serving in HMS ESKIMO before commanding the minesweeper HMS SOBERTON. During the Falklands campaign, he served as Flag Lt to the Commander in Chief Fleet. Promoted to Commander in 1983 he commanded HMS PHOEBE before an appointment to the Defence Staff in MoD. Subsequently promoted to Captain in 1988, he commanded HMS NORFOLK before returning to MoD as Assistant Director Navy Plans and Programmes. Returning to sea in 1995, he commanded HMS ILLUSTRIOUS serving in the Adriatic in support of UN and NATO operations in Bosnia. Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1997 he returned to the MoD as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff. On promotion to Vice Admiral in Dec 1999 he first assumed the position of Team Leader of the Defence Education and Training Study before taking over as Deputy Commander in Chief Fleet in May 2001.

3. The current 1SL, Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, has decided to retire as planned at the end of his appointment. He will step down in Sep 02 after 37 years service, to manage his smallholding in Devon.

4. Complete Biographies and Photographs are available on the MoD Web site. For further information, please contact Lt Cdr Jim Jenkin on 020 7218 3258 or Paul Sykes on 020 7218 3257 at the Defence Press Office.

5. The MoD web-site can be found at http://www.mod.uk. It provides a link to our on-line news service, UK Defence Today, which also be accessed directly at http://www.news.mod.uk. Alternatively you may contact the MoD Press Office by e-mail at press@dgics.mod.uk.