Ben Key
Sir Ben Key | |
---|---|
![]() Key in 2022 | |
Born | 7 November 1965 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1984–present |
Rank | Admiral |
Service number | C031724D[1] |
Commands | First Sea Lord Chief of Joint Operations Fleet Commander HMSIllustrious HMSLancaster HMSIron Duke HMSSandown |
Battles/wars | Kosovo War Iraq War |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Bronze Star Medal(United States) |
Alma mater | Royal Holloway, University of London Britannia Royal Naval College |
AdmiralSir Benjamin John Key,KCB,CBE,ADC(born 7 November 1965) is a seniorRoyal Navyofficer. He has served asFirst Sea Lordsince November 2021.[2]He has commanded HM ShipsSandown,Iron DukeandLancaster,and deployed on operations toKosovoandIraq.He was appointedFleet Commanderin 2016, and theChief of Joint Operationsin 2019.
Early life and education
[edit]Key was born on 7 November 1965[3]He was educated atBromsgrove School,aprivate schoolinBromsgrove,Worcestershire.[4][5][6]He studiedphysicsatRoyal Holloway, University of London,[7]graduating with aBachelor of Science(BSc) degree in 1988.[8]
Naval career
[edit]Key joined theRoyal Navyin 1984.[7]After serving as an observer in theFleet Air Arm,he saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in thefrigateHMSSomersetduring theKosovo Warin 1999.[7]After briefly serving as commanding officer of theminehunterHMSSandown,he became commanding officer of the frigateHMSIron Dukein 2000 andHMSLancasterin 2001.[7]He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at theMinistry of Defencein 2003, then Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006. Following promotion tocaptainon 30 June 2006,[9]he was appointed a staff officer at thePermanent Joint Headquartersin Northwood in 2007.[7]After that he became commanding officer of theaircraft carrierHMSIllustriousin February 2009, Commodore Joint Air Maritime Organisation in February 2010 and Director of Naval Plans and Resources at the Ministry of Defence in May 2011.[10]
Key was appointed Principal Staff Officer to theChief of the Defence Staffin November 2011,[11]andFlag Officer Sea Trainingin April 2013.[12]He was appointedFleet Commanderand promoted to the rank ofvice admiralon 10 February 2016.[13][14]He becameChief of Joint Operationsin April 2019.[15]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Coronation_of_Charles_III_and_Camilla_-_Before_King%27s_Procession_%28078%29.jpg/220px-Coronation_of_Charles_III_and_Camilla_-_Before_King%27s_Procession_%28078%29.jpg)
Key received the United StatesBronze Star Medalin 2006 and was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE) in the2016 New Year Honours,[16][17]andKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath(KCB) in the2021 New Year Honours.[1]He was awarded theHonorary degreeofDoctor of Science(D.Sc) byRoyal Holloway, University of Londonon 20 December 2018.[18]
Key ledOperation Pitting,the UK's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan following the2021 Taliban offensive,in August 2021 and,[19]on 15 October, it was announced that Key was to be the nextFirst Sea Lord.[20][21]He assumed the post from AdmiralSir Tony Radakinon 8 November 2021.[2]
Personal life
[edit]In 1994, Key married Elly.[8][22]Together they have three children: two sons and one daughter.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ab"No. 63218".The London Gazette(Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N2.
- ^ab"Royal Navy welcomes new First Sea Lord".www.royalnavy.mod.uk.8 November 2021.
- ^"Key, Vice Adm. Sir Benjamin John, (Sir Ben), (born 7 Nov. 1965), Chief of Joint Operations, since 2019".Who's Who 2022.Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021.Retrieved27 July2022.
- ^"Former Bromsgrove School student appointed Chief of Naval Staff".Bromsgrove Standard.21 October 2021.Retrieved18 November2021.
- ^"Foundation Lecture".Bromsgrove School.Retrieved18 November2021.
- ^"Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key Biography".Windsor Leadership.Retrieved18 November2021.
- ^abcde"Commodore Ben Key RN".Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London. 23 April 2010.Retrieved10 February2016.
- ^abc"Key, Adm. Sir Benjamin John, (Sir Ben), (born 7 Nov. 1965), First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, and First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King (formerly to the Queen), since 2021".Who's Who 2023.Oxford University Press. 1 December 2022.Retrieved30 October2023.
- ^"No. 58034".The London Gazette(Supplement). 4 July 2006. p. 9059.
- ^"Senior Royal Navy Appointments"(PDF).Retrieved10 February2016.
- ^"Senior Tri-Service and Ministry of Defence Appointments"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 November 2015.Retrieved10 February2016.
- ^"Rear Admiral visits BRNC at Dartmouth".Torquay Herald Express.21 May 2013.Retrieved10 February2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander".Royal Navy. 10 February 2016.Retrieved10 February2016.
- ^"No. 61513".The London Gazette(Supplement). 1 March 2016. p. 4342.
- ^"Current Admirals"(PDF).Retrieved1 April2019.
- ^"No. 61450".The London Gazette(Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N5.
- ^"Vice Admiral B J Key CBE, Royal Navy Fleet Commander"(PDF).Royal Navy.Retrieved15 February2016.
- ^"Vice Admiral Ben Key CBE awarded Honorary Doctorate from Royal Holloway".Royal Holloway, University of London.Retrieved20 October2021.
- ^Nicholls, Dominic (17 August 2021)."Taliban are in charge of security in Kabul, admits man in charge of British evacuation".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved20 August2021.
- ^"Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE has been appointed to First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff".GOV.UK.15 October 2021.
- ^Chuter, Andrew (16 October 2021)."Vice Adm. Ben Key gets nod as Britain's new First Sea Lord".Defense News.Retrieved18 October2021.
- ^"Why we support - Chief Of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Ben Key & Mrs Elly Key".www.rnrmc.org.uk.The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. 2 December 2018.Retrieved30 October2023.
- 1965 births
- Living people
- Royal Navy admirals
- First Sea Lords and Chiefs of the Naval Staff
- People educated at Bromsgrove School
- Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London
- Foreign recipients of United States military awards and decorations
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Military personnel of the Kosovo War
- Royal Navy personnel of the Iraq War
- Military personnel from Warwickshire
- People from Rugby, Warwickshire
- 20th-century Royal Navy personnel