Sir Richard Ibbotson
Ibbotson in 2017
Born (1954-06-27) 27 June 1954 (age 69)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1975–2011
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldNaval Secretary
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Falkland Islands
HMS Beaver
HMS Boxer
HMS Hurworth
Battles/warsGulf War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Cross

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Jeffrey Ibbotson, KBE, CB, DSC, DL (born 27 June 1954)[1] is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

Naval career

Educated at Durham University, Ibbotson joined the Royal Navy in 1975 and specialized in underwater warfare.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1977 (seniority 1 January 1977),[3] to lieutenant commander on 1 January 1985,[4] and was promoted to commander on 31 December 1990.[5]

Ibbotson was given command of the mine countermeasure vessel HMS Hurworth before serving in the Gulf War in 1991 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[2] He went on to command the frigate HMS Boxer before joining the Directorate of Nuclear Policy at the Ministry of Defence.[2] He became Staff Operations Officer to the Commander United Kingdom Task Group in the Adriatic Sea and was present during the withdrawal from Hong Kong in July 1997.[2]

Promoted to captain on 30 June 1997,[6] he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Beaver as well as Captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron and then served as Assistant Director, and then as Acting Director of the Directorate of Operational Capability at the Ministry of Defence, before becoming Commander of British Forces in the Falkland Islands in 2002.[2] He was appointed Commander of the Standing Naval Force, Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) in 2003 and Commander of the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in 2004.[2] He went on to be Naval Secretary in 2005, with a promotion to rear admiral on 23 June.[7] He was appointed Flag Officer, Sea Training in 2007 and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 2009.[8]

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. London. 27 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2014. Vice–Adml Sir Richard Ibbotson, Deputy C–in–C Fleet, 2009–11, 59
  2. ^ a b c d e f Guest Speaker in 2008 Anti Submarine Warfare Instructors Association
  3. ^ "No. 47322". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1977. p. 11653.
  4. ^ "No. 50020". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 January 1985. p. 1242.
  5. ^ "No. 52414". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1991. p. 301.
  6. ^ "No. 54820". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1997. p. 7549.
  7. ^ "No. 57693". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 July 2005. p. 8687.
  8. ^ Navy Command Senior Staff Ministry of Defence
  9. ^ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 4.
  10. ^ Honours List: Military Division – Royal Navy The Independent, 31 December 2010
Military offices Preceded byPeter Wilkinson Naval Secretary 2005–2007 Succeeded bySir Charles Montgomery Preceded byAnthony Rix Flag Officer Sea Training 2007–2009 Succeeded byChristopher Snow Preceded byPaul Boissier Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet 2009–2011 Succeeded bySir George Zambelles
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