18-625: Vice Admiral Sir Alan Michael Massey , KCB , CBE (born 9 March 1953) is a former senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as the Second Sea Lord . Massey was educated at the University of Liverpool and Britannia Royal Naval College . Massey trained as a seaman officer, specialising in above water warfare and as a fighter controller and navigator. His first posting was to HMS Bulwark in 1979. Massey's first command
36-658: A ceremony aboard HMS Victory in July 2008. Having left the Navy, Massey was appointed chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 20 July 2010. During his time at the MCA, Massey was responsible for leading the MCA through a period of change, which included a reorganisation of HM Coastguard and the UK's search and rescue helicopter capability. Massey's other responsibilities at
54-512: Is shown in its sleeve lace by a broad band with two narrower bands. Since 2001, it has been designated a three-star rank , when the number of stars on the shoulder board were increased to three. Lord Admiral of England The Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom (of England beginning in the 14th century, later of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800) is the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy . Most have been courtiers or members of
72-639: The Board of Admiralty . From the early 17th century onwards, when an individual Lord High Admiral was appointed, there was also a Council of the Lord High Admiral which assisted him to perform some of the duties of the Admiralty . When this office was not occupied by an individual, it was "put into commission" and exercised by a Board of Admiralty headed by a First Lord of the Admiralty ; this
90-585: The British royal family , and not professional naval officers. The Lord High Admiral is one of the nine English Great Officers of State and since 2021 is held personally by the reigning monarch (currently King Charles III , who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces ). In 1385 Richard, Earl of Arundel, was appointed Admiral of England, reuniting the offices of Admiral of the North and Admiral of
108-592: The rear admiral rank and is subordinate to the full admiral rank. The equivalent rank in the British Army and Royal Marines is lieutenant-general ; and in the Royal Air Force , it is air marshal . The Royal Navy has had vice-admirals since at least the 16th century. When the fleet was deployed, the vice-admiral would be in the leading portion or van , acting as the deputy to the admiral. The rank of Vice-Admiral evolved from that of Lieutenant of
126-556: The Admiralty (1546–1564) that being an officer who acted as secretary to the Lord Admiral of England and lapsed in 1876 but was revived in 1901 by King Edward VII . Prior to 1864 the Royal Navy was divided into coloured squadrons which determined his career path . The command flags flown by a Vice-Admiral changed a number of times during this period. In the Royal Navy, the rank of vice-admiral should be distinguished from
144-662: The MCA included leading the UK's efforts to improve safety at sea. Massey stepped down as chief executive on 31 October 2018. Massey was appointed a non-executive director at Shoreham Port in January 2019. On 31 October 2003, Massey was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services whilst on operations in Iraq during the period 19th March to 19th April 2003". He
162-706: The Royal Navy during the Second World War, but he gave up a promising naval career to support Elizabeth as her consort. Upon Prince Philip's death in 2021, the identity of the holder of the office became obscure, i.e., there has been no official announcement about the office's holder since then. It is unknown whether the office of Lord High Admiral reverted back to the Crown, or if it is currently vacant, in which case it remains as such until His Majesty either assumes it, or grants it upon someone else. The Ministry of Defence had confirmed they did not hold information on
180-482: The West , separate from 1294. From 1388 the offices of Admiral of the North and of the West were again distinct, though often held by the same man, until "Admirals of England" were appointed continuously from 1406. The titles "High Admiral" and "Lord Admiral" were both used, eventually combining in "Lord High Admiral". The Lord High Admiral did not originally have command at sea, but had jurisdiction over maritime affairs and
198-570: The authority to establish courts of Admiralty . During the reign of Henry VIII (1509–47) the English Navy had expanded to a point where it could not be managed by a single Lord High Admiral alone, therefore day-to-day management of the navy was handed over to a committee that later became known as the Navy Board . The navy board had Samuel Pepys as one of its members during the reign of Charles II (1660–85), and it ran side-by-side with
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#1732771768298216-913: The chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels (1991–1992) and head of plans for the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia (1999–2001). As a commodore, he led the Operations Division of the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood and then went on to be Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in July 2005, with the rank of rear admiral on 5 July 2005. He assumed office as Second Sea Lord in
234-483: The issue, but suggested it had been resumed by Queen Elizabeth II in right of the Crown. Upon Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, the office was reported to have been passed to King Charles III . The office is understood to be held by the Monarch (currently King Charles III) by default and can be granted to whomever is chosen by the Monarch. Before 1707 there was an office of Lord High Admiral of Scotland . Following
252-403: The new Admiralty Board becoming a sub-committee (Navy) of the tri-service Defence Council of the United Kingdom . The ancient title of Lord High Admiral was resumed, by the sovereign personally. Elizabeth II held the title for the next 47 years, until in 2011 she conferred the office upon her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , to celebrate his 90th birthday. Philip had served in
270-479: The office of Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom , which is an Admiralty position usually held by a retired full admiral, and that of Vice-Admiral of the Coast , a now obsolete office dealing with naval administration in each of the maritime counties. Vice-admirals are entitled to fly a personal flag . A vice-admiral flies a St George's cross defaced with a red disc in the hoist. The rank of vice-admiral itself
288-813: Was HMS Newcastle in 1993, and he later saw service as captain of HMS Campbeltown , HMS Illustrious during operations against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 and as captain of HMS Ark Royal when his ship led the amphibious assault into Iraq in 2003. Staff tours included three appointments to the Ministry of Defence in London, serving in the NATO policy directorate, Defence Programmes and as assistant director of Navy Plans. He also served twice in NATO staff appointments: as military assistant to
306-502: Was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours . This biographical article related to the Royal Navy is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Vice Admiral (Royal Navy) A vice-admiral ( VAdm ) is a flag officer rank of the Royal Navy and equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 . It is immediately superior to
324-485: Was the usual arrangement from 1709 until it was merged with the Admiralty in 1832. However, the office of Lord High Admiral, which—except for brief periods during its long history—had remained extant, was not abolished as an official naval post until 1964. In 1964, the office of First Lord of the Admiralty was also abolished and the functions of the Lords Commissioners of Admiralty were transferred to
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