Paul Bennett (Royal Navy officer)

Educated at Newcastle University, Bennett joined the Royal Navy in 1985.[1] He trained as a navigator before being given command the minehunter HMS Atherstone in 1998, the destroyer HMS Exeter in 1999 and the destroyer HMS Daring in 2008.[1] He became Commander Amphibious Task Group in May 2009, Commodore Naval Personnel Strategy in January 2011 and Director of the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre in February 2013.[2] After that he became Chief of Staff at Joint Forces Command in September 2013 and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) and Controller of the Navy in May 2016.[3] He was made Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces in November 2017,[3] which was followed by appointment as Chief of Staff of NATO Allied Command Transformation in July 2018.[4] He was succeeded by Vice Admiral Guy Robinson in September 2021,[5] and subsequently retired in February 2022.[6]

Bennett was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2007 Birthday Honours,[7] and a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2016 Birthday Honours.[8]