Sir Ben Key | |
|---|---|
 Key in 2022 | |
| Born | (1965-11-07)7 November 1965 (age 59) |
| 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 HMS Illustrious HMS Lancaster HMS Iron 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 Navy officer. He has served asFirst Sea Lord since November 2021.[2] He has commanded HM ShipsSandown,Iron Duke andLancaster, and deployed on operations toKosovo andIraq. He was appointedFleet Commander in 2016, and theChief of Joint Operations in 2019.
Key was born on 7 November 1965[3] He was educated atBromsgrove School, aprivate school inBromsgrove, Worcestershire.[4][5][6] He studiedphysics atRoyal Holloway, University of London,[7] graduating with aBachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1988.[8]
Key joined theRoyal Navy in 1984.[7] After serving as an observer in theFleet Air Arm, he saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in thefrigateHMS Somerset during theKosovo War in 1999.[7] After briefly serving as commanding officer of theminehunterHMSSandown, he became commanding officer of the frigateHMS Iron Duke in 2000 andHMS Lancaster in 2001.[7] He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at theMinistry of Defence in 2003, then Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006. Following promotion tocaptain on 30 June 2006,[9] he was appointed a staff officer at thePermanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007.[7] After that he became commanding officer of theaircraft carrierHMS 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 theChief of the Defence Staff in November 2011,[11] andFlag Officer Sea Training in April 2013.[12] He was appointedFleet Commander and promoted to the rank ofvice admiral on 10 February 2016.[13][14] He becameChief of Joint Operations in April 2019.[15]
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Key received the United StatesBronze Star Medal in 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 degree ofDoctor of Science (D.Sc) byRoyal Holloway, University of London on 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 Radakin on 8 November 2021.[2]
In 1994, Key married Elly.[8][22] Together they have two sons and one daughter.[8]
Source:[23]
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| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Order of the Bath | Appointed Knight Companion in 2021[1] |
| Order of the British Empire | Appointed Commander in 2016[16] |
| NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | |
| NATO Medal for the Kosovo | 1999 |
| Iraq Medal | 2006 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | 6 February 2002 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | 6 February 2012 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal | 6 February 2022 |
| King Charles III Coronation Medal | 6 May 2023 |
| Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848) | With 2 Bars |
| Bronze Star Medal | Awarded in 2006 |
| 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 |
