Melanie Robinson
Commodore Melanie Robinson in February 2020
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1993–2023
RankCommodore
Commands heldMaritime Reserve
HMS Express
Wales University Royal Naval Unit
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Alma materCardiff University
Open University
Spouse(s)Vice Admiral Guy Robinson

Commodore Melanie Suzanne "Mel" Robinson, CBE, ADC is a British senior Royal Naval Reserve officer. She was Commander of Maritime Reserves from February 2020 until July 2023.[1]

Naval career

Robinson has degrees from Cardiff University and the Open University.[2] She joined the Royal Navy in 1993. As commander of the Cardiff University Royal Naval Unit (now Wales URNU) and its training ship HMS Express, she was one of the first women to command a Royal Navy patrol vessel.[3][2][4] She transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve with the rank of commander in November 2015.[5] She was promoted to commodore on 4 February 2020, and was then one of four women to hold that rank.[3][6]

Robinson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 Birthday Honours.[7]

Personal life

Robinson family in 2023

Robinson is married to Vice Admiral Guy Robinson,[8] a fellow Royal Navy officer who has been serving with NATO as Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Commander Transformation since 2021.[9] They have two children.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maritime Reserves welcome new leader". Royal Navy. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Commodore MS Robinson ADC MSc FCIPD Commander Maritime Reserves (COMMARRES)" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "New Commander of Maritime Reserves assumes command". Royal Navy. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  4. ^ Cotterill, Tom (10 February 2020). "New head of the Royal Navy reserve plans huge shake-up of Britain's part-time force". The Portsmouth News. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  5. ^ "No. 61444". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 December 2015. p. 25082.
  6. ^ "No. 62979". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 April 2020. p. 7762.
  7. ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B6.
  8. ^ a b Skitt, Laura (8 October 2020). "Women At Sea: A Trailblazing Royal Navy Career". Forces Network. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Vice Admiral Guy Robinson OBE". Allied Command Transformation. North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
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