Ben Key

Vice Admiral Benjamin John Key, CBE (born 7 November 1965) is a Royal Navy officer.

Ben Key
Key in 2016
Born(1965-11-07)7 November 1965
Rugby, Warwickshire
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1984–present
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldFleet Commander
HMS Illustrious
HMS Lancaster
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Sandown
Battles/warsKosovo War
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Bronze Star (United States)

Early life and education

Key was born on 7 November 1965. He was educated at Bromsgrove School, an independent school in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He studied physics at Royal Holloway, University of London.[1]

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984.[1] He saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in the frigate HMS Somerset during the Kosovo War in 1999.[1] After briefly serving as commanding officer of the minehunter HMS Sandown, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2000 and HMS Lancaster in 2001.[1] He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at the Ministry of Defence in 2003, Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006 and then a staff officer at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007.[1] After that he became commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 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.[2]

He was appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2011,[3] Flag Officer Sea Training in April 2013[4] and Fleet Commander in February 2016,[5] when he was also promoted to the rank of vice-admiral on 10 February 2016.[6] He became Chief of Joint Operations in April 2019.[7]

Key received the US Bronze Star Medal in 2006 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours.[8][9]

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References
  1. "Commodore Ben Key RN". Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  2. "Senior Royal Navy Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. "Senior Tri-Service and Ministry of Defence Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. "Rear Admiral visits BRNC at Dartmouth". Torquay Herald Express. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. "No. 61513". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 March 2016. p. 4342.
  7. "Current Admirals" (PDF). Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  8. "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N5.
  9. "Vice Admiral B J Key CBE, Royal Navy Fleet Commander" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
Military offices
Preceded by
Clive Johnstone		 Flag Officer Sea Training
2013–2015		 Succeeded by
John Clink
Preceded by
Sir Philip Jones		 Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
2016–2019		 Succeeded by
Jerry Kyd
Preceded by
Timothy Fraser		 Chief of Joint Operations
2019–		 Incumbent
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