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Ben Key

Not to be confused with Ben Kay.
Sir Ben Key
Key in 2022
Born (1965-11-07) 7 November 1965 (age 59)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1984–present
RankAdmiral
Service numberC031724D[1]
CommandsFirst Sea Lord
Chief of Joint Operations
Fleet Commander
HMS Illustrious
HMS Lancaster
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Sandown
Battles / warsKosovo War
Iraq War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Bronze Star Medal (United States)
Alma materRoyal Holloway, University of London
Britannia Royal Naval College

Admiral Sir Benjamin John Key, KCB, CBE, ADC (born 7 November 1965) is a senior Royal Navy officer. He has served as First Sea Lord since November 2021.[2] He has commanded HM Ships Sandown, Iron Duke and Lancaster, and deployed on operations to Kosovo and Iraq. He was appointed Fleet Commander in 2016, and the Chief of Joint Operations in 2019.

Early life and education

Key was born on 7 November 1965[3] He was educated at Bromsgrove School, a private school in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.[4][5][6] He studied physics at Royal Holloway, University of London,[7] graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1988.[8]

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984.[7] After serving as an observer in the Fleet Air Arm, he saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in the frigate HMS Somerset during the Kosovo War in 1999.[7] 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.[7] He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at the Ministry of Defence in 2003, then Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006. Following promotion to captain on 30 June 2006,[9] he was appointed a staff officer at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007.[7] 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.[10]

Key was appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2011,[11] and Flag Officer Sea Training in April 2013.[12] He was appointed Fleet Commander and promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 10 February 2016.[13][14] He became Chief of Joint Operations in April 2019.[15]

Key (centre) with other defence chiefs during the Coronation Procession of Charles III, May 2023

Key received the United States Bronze Star Medal in 2006 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours,[16][17] and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2021 New Year Honours.[1] He was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by Royal Holloway, University of London on 20 December 2018.[18]

Key led Operation Pitting, the UK's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive, in August 2021 and,[19] on 15 October, it was announced that Key was to be the next First Sea Lord.[20][21] He assumed the post from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on 8 November 2021.[2]

Personal life

In 1994, Key married Elly.[8][22] Together they have three children: two sons and one daughter.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N2.
  2. ^ a b "Royal Navy welcomes new First Sea Lord". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. 8 November 2021.
  3. ^ "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. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Former Bromsgrove School student appointed Chief of Naval Staff". Bromsgrove Standard. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Foundation Lecture". Bromsgrove School. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key Biography". Windsor Leadership. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Commodore Ben Key RN". Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "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. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  9. ^ "No. 58034". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 July 2006. p. 9059.
  10. ^ "Senior Royal Navy Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Senior Tri-Service and Ministry of Defence Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Rear Admiral visits BRNC at Dartmouth". Torquay Herald Express. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  14. ^ "No. 61513". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 March 2016. p. 4342.
  15. ^ "Current Admirals" (PDF). Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  16. ^ "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N5.
  17. ^ "Vice Admiral B J Key CBE, Royal Navy Fleet Commander" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Vice Admiral Ben Key CBE awarded Honorary Doctorate from Royal Holloway". Royal Holloway, University of London. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  19. ^ Nicholls, Dominic (17 August 2021). "Taliban are in charge of security in Kabul, admits man in charge of British evacuation". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ Chuter, Andrew (16 October 2021). "Vice Adm. Ben Key gets nod as Britain's new First Sea Lord". Defense News. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  22. ^ "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. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
Military offices
Preceded by Flag Officer Sea Training
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
2016–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Joint Operations
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
2021– 		Incumbent
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