Second Sea Lord, Guest of Honour at Speech Day 2022
We were delighted to welcome Vice Admiral Martin Connell CBE, Second Sea Lord, to our end of year Speech Day celebrations.
The Vice Admiral addressed guests before presenting pupils with their trophies and awards during our Prize Giving Ceremony. He concluded his duties as inspecting officer at our Divisions, where families proudly watched their pupils march on the parade ground for the final time this academic year.
He commented on Twitter after the event, “A privilege to take the salute and award (>150) prizes at @RHSSuffolk annual Prize Giving Divisions. Exceptional drill and inspiring stories in an evocative setting overlooking the Stour estuary. Thanks to Headmaster Simon Lockyer and all the staff for allowing me to be a part of the day.”
Biography
Martin Connell was appointed Second Sea Lord in January 2022. He is responsible for delivery of the RN’s future capabilities, strategy and long-term programme and is the RN’s Principal Personnel Officer.
His early career included various seagoing assignments, initially as a Lynx helicopter observer and then as a principal warfare officer. He has had the privilege of commanding at sea on a number of occasions, including the former aircraft carrier and flagship HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and joint operational command at 1* level while serving as Commander of the UK’s Amphibious Task Group. Ashore he has completed numerous tours in the central staff of the Ministry of Defence, served as the British Naval Attache in Washington D.C. and most recently was the Royal Navy's Force Generation Director, Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm and Senior Responsible Owner of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme.
He is a graduate of the US Naval War College (2004-05), the Higher Command and Staff Course (2011), the US CAPSTONE Course (2017) and UK Pinnacle (2021). He is a Younger Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House, is President of Royal Navy Football and a trustee of the Naval Children’s Charity.
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