ADMIRAL SIR JONATHON BAND GCB ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
A Winning Strategy: Preparing the Royal Navy for Future Operations
Date/Time: 19th May 2009, 17:30
To hear a recording of this lecture:
In a volatile and unpredictable world, the flexibility and agility of maritime forces offer the UK government a sophisticated range of responses to threats to the nation. Maintaining a balance of forces and capabilities in the Naval Service presents challenges which, although complex, can be met through a commitment to thinking in strategic terms. While predictive analysis as a basis for defence planning inevitably carries a degree of risk, maintenance of a balanced Fleet and a coherent strategy for the delivery of flexible capabilities can provide a hedge against an uncertain tomorrow. In his analysis of the challenges and threats facing maritime forces, Admiral Band will consider the strategies and capabilities needed, now and in the future, to enable the Royal Navy to continue to safeguard this island nation.
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band entered the Royal Navy in 1967. On completion of training at BRNC Dartmouth, he served in the Far East before studying at Exeter University. As a Junior Officer, Sir Jonathon saw sea service in many parts of the world, including an exchange appointment with the US Navy. Promoted to Commander in 1985, and Captain in 1988, he held several sea commands before his appointment in 1991 as Assistant Director of Navy Plans and Programmes in the Ministry of Defence.
Admiral Band’s final sea command, from 1995 to 1997, was the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, undertaking operational deployments in the Adriatic in support of UN – and then NATO – operations in Bosnia. Sir Jonathon returned to the MOD in 1997 as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and was involved in the Strategic Defence Review, before his appointment as Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 2002 in the rank of Admiral. This latter appointment involved the Iraq campaign. Admiral Band took up his present post as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, and thus professional Head of the Royal Navy, in February 2006.