Sir Martin Connell joined the Royal Navy straight from school with few academic qualifications. He went on to command at every rank in the Royal Navy from lieutenant through to vice admiral.
Initially qualifying as a Lynx observer and instructor, he subsequently re-trained as a principal warfare officer and has had the privilege of commanding warships from patrol vessels and frigates through to aircraft carriers and the United Kingdom’s Amphibious Task Group, deploying on operations all around the world.
He was the last Senior Responsible Owner of the Queen Elizabeth Class of aircraft carriers and oversaw their introduction into operational service as Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm.
Later on in his career he worked in various shore-based roles including as a diplomat in Washington D.C. and an advisor in the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. His final assignment was as Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, which included a period in 2025 as the Interim First Sea Lord.
