Martin Connell (Royal Navy officer)

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

Martin Connell
Connell in 2022
Born1968 (age 54–55)
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

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.[2]

Connell was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours.[8]

Until 2022 he was serving as Director Force Generation under the Fleet Commander. On 14 January 2022, newly promoted Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse became Director Force Generation as Connell was promoted and appointed as Second Sea Lord.[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. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. pp. 19008–19010.
  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. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N6.
  9. "A real privilege to assume the role of Director Force Generation for the Royal Navy. I have the telescope!!".
  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 15 January 2022.
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