Andrew Burns (Royal Navy officer)

Vice Admiral Andrew Paul Burns, CB, OBE (born 20 November 1969) is a senior Royal Navy officer. He has served as Fleet Commander since September 2021.

Andrew Burns
Vice Admiral Burns in 2022
Born (1969-11-20) 20 November 1969 (age 54)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1992–present
RankVice Admiral
Commands heldFleet Commander
United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Amphibious Task Group
HMS Bulwark
HMS Somerset
HMS Berkeley
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Naval career edit

Educated at Portsmouth Grammar School, Sherborne School and Durham University (Hatfield College) (1989–1992),[1] Burns joined the Royal Navy in 1992.[2] He also holds an MA degree in Defence Studies from King's College London. He was given command of the minesweeper HMS Berkeley in 2000 and, after being deployed to Iraq as a Director for Communications and Information Systems in 2004, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Somerset in 2009 and then of the assault ship HMS Bulwark in 2012.[2] He became Principal Staff Officer to the Commander Joint Forces Command in 2013,[2] and Commander Amphibious Task Group in May 2016.[3]

In February 2019, Burns was promoted to rear admiral,[4] and appointed Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear Admiral Surface Ships.[5][6] He was appointed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability) in January 2020[7] and was also given the title of Director Develop as of September 2020.[8] He was promoted to vice admiral and took up the post of Fleet Commander in September 2021.[9]

Honours edit

Burns was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 Birthday Honours,[10] and Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Members' News" (PDF). Hatfield Record: 177. 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Commodore Andrew Burns OBE" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  4. ^ "No. 62610". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 April 2019. p. 6430.
  5. ^ "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces Network. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Andrew Burns" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  7. ^ Mackie, Colin (7 January 2020). "Admirals January 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 7 January 2020. Rear-Admiral Andrew P. Burns: Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability), January 2020
  8. ^ "Director Develop or Director Development in Navy Command" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020. n response toyour request,I can advise that the position of Director Develop is held by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns.
  9. ^ "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  10. ^ "No. 61256". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2015. p. B6.
  11. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B2.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
(Commander United Kingdom Strike Force from late 2019)

February 2019 – December 2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Controller of the Navy
2020–2021
Succeeded by
James Parkin
Preceded by Fleet Commander
2021–present
Incumbent