Martin Connell (Royal Navy officer)

Rear Admiral Martin John Connell, CBE (born 1968) is a senior Royal Navy officer currently serving as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) and as Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm and Director Force Generation.[3]

Martin Connell
Commodore Connell in 2014
Born	1968 (age 52–53) Yorkshire, United Kingdom[1]
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1987–present
Rank	Rear Admiral
Service number	C034297Q[2]
Commands held	Fleet Air Arm Amphibious Task Group HMS Illustrious HMS Chatham HMS Severn
Battles/wars	Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Naval career

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.[4] 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.[5]

Connell was promoted to commodore on 10 February 2015.[6] He went on to be appointed Commander Amphibious Task Group in 2015, and naval attaché in Washington, D.C. in 2016.[7] Since 2019, he has served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) as well as head of the Fleet Air Arm.[8] He is a recipient of the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with one clasp.[9]

Connell was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours.[10]

References

1. "Fleet Air Arm". Royal Navy. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
2. "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. p. 19008.
3. Mackie, Colin (29 May 2020). "Admirals May 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 31 May 2020. Rear-Admiral Martin J. Connell: Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability and Carriers)/Rear-Admiral, Fleet Air Arm and Director, Force Generation, February 2019
4. "Martin Connell - Royal Navy Biography" (PDF).
5. "Commodore Martin Connell" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
6. "No. 61144". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 February 2015. p. 2726.
7. "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2019.
8. "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces Network. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
9. "No. 62445". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 October 2018. pp. 19008–19010.
10. "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N6.