James Burnell-Nugent

Summary

Admiral Sir James Michael Burnell-Nugent, KCB, CBE (born 20 November 1949) is a retired Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief Fleet from 2005 to 2007.

Sir James Burnell-Nugent
Born (1949-11-20) 20 November 1949 (age 74)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1971–2007
RankAdmiral
Commands heldFleet
Naval Home Command
Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
HMS Invincible
2nd Frigate Squadron
HMS Brilliant
HMS Conqueror
HMS Olympus
Battles/warsKosovo War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Early life and education edit

Burnell-Nugent was educated at Stowe School, then an all-boys private school in Buckinghamshire.[1] He studied mathematics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree: as per tradition, his BA was later promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree.[2][3]

Naval career edit

Burnell-Nugent joined the Royal Navy in 1971.[4] He was appointed an acting lieutenant on 1 November 1972, and confirmed in this rank in June 1974.[5]

He was given command of the diesel submarine HMS Olympus in 1978, and was promoted to lieutenant-commander on 1 November 1980.[6] Appointed in command of the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Conqueror in 1984,[4] he carried out many Cold War patrols. He was promoted to commander on 30 June 1985.[7] He became Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Brilliant as well as Captain of the 2nd Frigate Squadron in 1992, and in that capacity was involved in the early stages of the Bosnia Crisis.[4] He was in command of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and made two joint operational deployments to the Gulf for air operations over Iraq and then conducted further air operations during the Kosovo War.[4] He became Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1999.[4] As Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces from 2001 to 2002, he was Maritime Commander of the UK Joint Force and the Deputy Maritime Commander of the Coalition for the first 6 months of the War in Afghanistan.[4]

On promotion to vice admiral, Burnell-Nugent took up the post of Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in 2003.[4] On 15 November 2005, he was promoted to admiral and took up his position as Commander-in-Chief Fleet.[4] He also held the honorary position of Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2007.[1] Burnell-Nugent stood down from this position in November 2007, and was replaced by Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope. He retired in 2008.[4]

Burnell-Nugent was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1999 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 2004.[4]

Later life edit

Burnell-Nugent served as High Sheriff of Devon for 2015 to 2016.[8] Burnell-Nugent currently runs Orchard Leadership.[9]

Personal life edit

In 1973, Burnell-Nugent married Mary, a medical doctor and the daughter of the Rt Revd Robin Woods, an Anglican bishop. Together, they have four children: three sons and one daughter.[2] His grandfather was Frank Burnell-Nugent, a brigadier-general in the British Army.[10]

Burnell-Nugent is an Anglican Christian. He is a churchwarden and a local worship leader.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-1414-8
  2. ^ a b "Burnell-Nugent, Adm. Sir James (Michael), (born 20 Nov. 1949), Commander-in-Chief Fleet, and NATO Maritime Component Commander Northwood, 2005–07; Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, 2005–07; company director, since 2008". Who's Who 2022. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Who's Who: Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent KCB CBE". Save the Parish. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Debrett's People of Today
  5. ^ "No. 46393". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 November 1974. p. 10629.
  6. ^ "No. 48379". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 November 1980. p. 16339.
  7. ^ "No. 50204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 July 1985. p. 10103.
  8. ^ "Devon 2015/2016". High Sheriffs Association. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  9. ^ Orchard Leadership
  10. ^ "Obituary". The Times. No. 49184. London. 14 March 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 11 March 2024 – via Gale.
Military offices
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
1999–2001
Succeeded by
New title Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
2001–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Sea Lord
2003–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief Fleet
2005–2007
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
2005–2007
Succeeded by