Rear Admiral David George Snelson, CB is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces from 2002 to 2004.

David Snelson
Born (1951-05-27) 27 May 1951 (age 72)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1969–2006
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldCommander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
HMS Ark Royal
HMS Liverpool
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath

Naval career edit

Snelson joined the Royal Navy in 1969.[1] He first became Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMS Liverpool in 1987, and again as Captain 3rd Destroyer Squadron in 1997.[2][3] He then became Director of Naval Operations and Trade under the Naval Staff at the Ministry of Defence in 1998 and Director of Navy Staff Duties in 1999 before commanding the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in 2001.[2] He was appointed Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces in 2002.[4] In March 2003 he was the Royal Navy Commander for Operation Telic, during which he led maritime operations for the Invasion of Iraq from his headquarters ashore in Bahrain.[5] He went on to be Chief of Staff (Warfare) for the Fleet in 2004 before retiring in 2006.[6]

After leaving the Navy Snelson served as Chief Harbour Master for the Port of London Authority between 2006 and 2011.[3] He then served as a Non Executive Director for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Port of Milford Haven between 2011 and 2018.[7][8] In 2013 Snelson was elected as an Elder Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ New chief harbour master to join Port of London Authority Archived 4 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine Port of London Authority
  2. ^ a b Ark Royal goes home after refit BBC News, 28 August 2001
  3. ^ a b "Debrett's People of Today".
  4. ^ "Royal Navy Senior Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012.
  5. ^ Al-Qaeda 'biggest threat' to navy BBC News, 10 March 2003
  6. ^ "News Archive 11". mcdoa.org.uk.
  7. ^ "Annual Report and Accounts 2016/2017" (PDF). Maritime & Coastguard Agency. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Port Authority Appoints New Board Members". mhpa.co.uk.
  9. ^ "The Court". Trinity House.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
2002–2004
Succeeded by