Mark Stanhope
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, GCB, OBE (born 26 March 1952) is the First Sea Lord
and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom
, thus the professional head of the Royal Navy
.
, Worthing High School for Boys (since 1973 the sixth form college
Worthing College
) and then St Peter's College, Oxford
, where he gained an MA in Physics. He joined the Royal Navy
in 1970.
. He was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet
in 2002.
He was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
at NATO from 2004 until November 2007, including a period as Acting Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in 2005 waiting for a new U.S. Supreme Allied Commander to arrive. In November 2007 he became Commander-in-Chief Fleet
. He succeeded Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
as First Sea Lord
in July 2009.
Already Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), Stanhope was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 2010 Birthday Honours
.
In June 2011 he warned that the fleet will not be able to continue the current scale of operations around Libya
beyond the summer unless ministers take tough decisions about what they want to prioritise. He said the navy had planned for a six-month commitment but that the government would have to make "challenging decisions" about what it wanted to do thereafter. In a briefing at Admiralty House
, Stanhope said: "How long can we go on as we are in Libya? Certainly – in terms of Nato's current time limit that has been extended to 90 days – we are comfortable with that. Beyond that we might have to request the government to make some challenging decisions about priorities. There are different ways of doing this. It's not simply about giving up standing commitments, we will have to rebalance." On June 24, 2011, The Telegraph newspaper reported that Stanhope, who publicly questioned Prime Minister David Cameron
's handling conflicts in Libya
and/or Afghanistan
, will lose his position on the Defence Board, the highest non-ministerial Ministry of Defence committee, which makes decision on all aspect of military policy.
from 2000-04.
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First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
and Chief of the Naval Staff of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, thus the professional head of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Early life
Mark Stanhope was educated at the London Nautical SchoolLondon Nautical School
The London Nautical School was founded in 1915, as a consequence of the official report into the loss of the Titanic. The primary aim of the school is "to educate and prepare pupils to meet the needs of society either at sea or in any other occupation where responsibility, attention to duty and...
, Worthing High School for Boys (since 1973 the sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
Worthing College
Worthing College
Worthing College is primarily a large sixth form and yet a relatively small college compared to some other colleges.The College is situated in Goring-by-Sea, in the town of Worthing on the South Coast mainline railway...
) and then St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
, where he gained an MA in Physics. He joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1970.
Naval career
He commanded the submarines from 1981 to 1983 and from 1986 to 1989. He then went on to command the frigate from 1991 to 1993 and subsequently the aircraft carrier from 1998 to 2000 during which time that ship was deployed on operational patrol off Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. He was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
in 2002.
He was Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
Allied Command Transformation
Allied Command Transformation is a NATO military command, which was formed in 2003 after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation restructuring....
at NATO from 2004 until November 2007, including a period as Acting Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in 2005 waiting for a new U.S. Supreme Allied Commander to arrive. In November 2007 he became Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Commander-in-Chief Fleet is the admiral responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the British Royal Navy...
. He succeeded Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
Jonathon Band
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, GCB, DL, ADC , from 2006 to 2009, was the First Sea Lord of the United Kingdom, the most senior serving officer in the Royal Navy. Before serving as First Sea Lord he was Commander-in-Chief Fleet...
as First Sea Lord
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy and the whole Naval Service; it was formerly known as First Naval Lord. He also holds the title of Chief of Naval Staff, and is known by the abbreviations 1SL/CNS...
in July 2009.
Already Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), Stanhope was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 2010 Birthday Honours
2010 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2010 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2010 in New Zealand and 12 June 2010 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2010.-Knights Bachelor:*Professor John Rex Beddington CMG, for science...
.
In June 2011 he warned that the fleet will not be able to continue the current scale of operations around Libya
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
beyond the summer unless ministers take tough decisions about what they want to prioritise. He said the navy had planned for a six-month commitment but that the government would have to make "challenging decisions" about what it wanted to do thereafter. In a briefing at Admiralty House
Admiralty House
Buildings called Admiralty House include:*Admiralty House, Halifax, former Admiral's Residence now the Maritime Command Museum* Admiralty House, Mount Pearl, aka Admiralty House Museum & Archives Buildings called Admiralty House include:*Admiralty House, Halifax, former Admiral's Residence now the...
, Stanhope said: "How long can we go on as we are in Libya? Certainly – in terms of Nato's current time limit that has been extended to 90 days – we are comfortable with that. Beyond that we might have to request the government to make some challenging decisions about priorities. There are different ways of doing this. It's not simply about giving up standing commitments, we will have to rebalance." On June 24, 2011, The Telegraph newspaper reported that Stanhope, who publicly questioned Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's handling conflicts in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and/or Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, will lose his position on the Defence Board, the highest non-ministerial Ministry of Defence committee, which makes decision on all aspect of military policy.
Family
He and his wife, Jan, have been married since 1975, and have one daughter. They live in Exeter. Lady Stanhope, an Oxford graduate in Physics, was the Director of Resources at Devon County CouncilDevon County Council
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon...
from 2000-04.
Awards
- Recipient of the US Legion of Merit (Officer)
- Freeman of the City of London and the Guild of Freemen
- Younger Brother of Trinity House
- Fellow of the Nautical Institute
- Liveryman of the Upholders Company
- Honorary Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford
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Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) | (2010) |
| Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) | ||
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Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) | |
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Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II... |
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Officer of the Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... |
(United States) |
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