Vice Admiral Sir David George Steel, KBE, KStJ, DL (born 6 April 1961) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord between 2012 and 2015. He assumed the office of Governor of Gibraltar on 11 June 2020.
Sir David Steel | |
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Governor of Gibraltar | |
Assumed office 11 June 2020 | |
Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
Chief Minister | Fabian Picardo |
Preceded by | Edward Davis |
Personal details | |
Born | 6 April 1961 |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch/service | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1979–2015 |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Commands | Second Sea Lord Naval Secretary HM Naval Base Portsmouth |
Battles/wars | Kosovo War |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service Knight of Justice of the Order of St John |
Steel was born on 6 April 1961. He was educated at Rossall School in Lancashire and attended Durham University where he read law, graduating in 1983.[1] He was called to the bar in 1988.[2]
Steel joined the Royal Navy in 1979.[2] His early career was spent in a variety of sea and shore appointments, including as the Fleet Legal Adviser. In December 1999, while serving in the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in support of operations in Kosovo and Macedonia earlier that year.[3] In November 2005 he assumed command of HM Naval Base Portsmouth and in that capacity was honoured for his "inspirational leadership" during the Government's savings review of Naval Bases in 2007.[4] He was also appointed Chief Naval Logistics Officer and Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen.[5]
In November 2008 Steel was appointed Director of Service Personnel Policy (Pay and Allowances) at the Ministry of Defence and,[6] in April 2010, he was promoted to rear admiral and appointed Naval Secretary.[7] He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Second Sea Lord in October 2012.[8]
Already a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Steel was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours.[9][10] He was appointed a Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) on 11 November 2020.[11]
Viceregal styles of Sir David Steel (2020–present) | |
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Reference style | His Excellency |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
In 2011 Steel was appointed as a Director of Portsmouth Cultural Trust, a role he held until 2016.[12] In 2015 he became Chief Executive of the Leeds Castle Foundation and Enterprises Limited.[13] He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire,[14] a Freeman of the City of London,[15] and a Bencher of the Middle Temple.[16]
Among his other commitments Steel is a trustee of the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown,[17] and President and Chairman of Trustees of the Union Jack Club.[18][19] He is President of the Church of England Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Clubs and Housing Association,[20] Patron of the Boleh Sailing Trust,[21][22] a vice-president of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets,[23][24] and an ambassador for the Woodland Trust.[25][26]
Steel assumed the role of Governor of Gibraltar on 11 June 2020.[27]
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Media related to Sir David Steel at Wikimedia Commons