Sir Nicholas Hine
Vice Admiral Hine in 2019
Born (1966-02-04) 4 February 1966 (age 57)
Carlisle, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1985–2022
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldSecond Sea Lord
HMS Westminster
HMS Blackwater
Battles/warsKosovo War
Iraq War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Vice Admiral Sir Nicholas William Hine, KCB (born 4 February 1966) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer. He served as Second Sea Lord from 2019 to 2022.

Early life and education

Hine was born on 4 February 1966 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. He was educated at John Taylor High School, a state school in Staffordshire. He studied at City University London (Bachelor of Science, 1989) and King's College London (Master of Arts Defence Studies, 1999).[1]

Naval career

Hine joined the Royal Navy in 1985. He served as commanding officer of HMS Blackwater from 1995 to 1997,[2] during which he was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 1 May 1996.[3] He then served as Executive Officer of HMS Splendid from 1999 to 2000.[4] He was promoted to commander on 30 June 2000.[5]

He became Assistant Director of the Maritime Change Programme in August 2007, and was promoted to captain on 30 June 2008.[6] The following year he was appointed Director Iraq Maritime and Training in January 2009 and Team Leader Warfare Officers and Ratings in August 2010. He went on to be Head of Anti-Submarine Warfare and commanding officer of the frigate HMS Westminster in June 2011, conducting numerous counter piracy and drug missions in the Gulf and East Africa.[7][8] Defence Policy Advisor to HM Treasury in September 2012 and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) in September 2015.[9] During his time in the role he authored the Maritime Strategy 2035.[10] He was promoted to commodore on 17 March 2014,[11] and to rear-admiral on 1 September 2015.[12]

Hine became Second Sea Lord on 26 April 2019,[13] and was promoted to vice admiral.[14] As Second Sea Lord he was responsible for the 'Navy Transformation' programme. He also chaired the Royal Navy Digital and Data Board.[15] On 12 January 2022, Hine was succeeded by Vice Admiral Martin Connell as Second Sea Lord.[16] He retired from the Royal Navy on 5 May 2022.[17]

In 2015, Hine was given permission to wear the Bronze Star Medal awarded to him by the President of the United States "in recognition of meritorious, gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq".[18] In the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[19]

Hine was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2023 New Year Honours.[20]

Personal life

Hine is married and has one daughter.[2]

Hine was diagnosed with autism in the 2010s, and has spoken in favour of neurodiversity in the armed forces.[21]

The 1999 BBC1 documentary "Splendid Under The Sea" followed Hine as Second in Command.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Hine, Rear Adm. Nicholas William, (Born 4 Feb. 1966), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Policy, since 2015". Who's Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U285157. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 6 June 2019. ((cite book)): |website= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b "Hine, Vice Adm. Nicholas William, (born 4 Feb. 1966), Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, since 2019". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020.
  3. ^ "No. 54389". The London Gazette. 3 May 1996. p. 6353.
  4. ^ "Second Sea Lord". Royal Navy website. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021.
  5. ^ "No. 55908". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 July 2000. p. 7543.
  6. ^ "No. 58765". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 July 2008. p. 10601.
  7. ^ "HMS Westminster in £14m drug seizure". BBC News. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  8. ^ "HMS Westminster returns from successful Middle East mission". Ministry of Defence. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  10. ^ "PEOPLE MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION AND STRATEGY" (PDF).
  11. ^ "No. 60952". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 August 2014. p. 2.
  12. ^ "No. 61352". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 2015. p. 17150.
  13. ^ "Royal Navy appoints new Second Sea Lord". Royal Navy. Portsmouth. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  14. ^ "No. 62648". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 May 2019. p. 9040.
  15. ^ "Why we set up the Royal Navy Digital and Data Board and how it's helping to drive innovation". defencedigital.blog.gov.uk. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  16. ^ "New Second Sea Lord officially welcomed to role". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  17. ^ "No. 63728". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2022. p. 11190.
  18. ^ "No. 61155". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 February 2015. p. 3474.
  19. ^ "No. 62310". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 June 2018. p. B2.
  20. ^ "No. 63918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N2.
  21. ^ Brown, Larisa (12 March 2021). "Vice Admiral Nick Hine: 'To be blunt, autism made me a better naval officer'". The Times. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  22. ^ "HMS Splendid: under the Sea". The Radio Times. No. 3925. 6 May 1999. p. 88. ISSN 0033-8060. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
Military offices Preceded byClive Johnstone Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) 2015–2019 Succeeded byGwyn Jenkins Preceded byTony Radakin Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff 2019–2022 Succeeded byMartin Connell
Categories