Jock Slater

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Admiral Sir John Cunningham Kirkwood Slater, Template:Post-nominals (born 27 March 1938), known as Jock Slater, is a retired Royal Navy officer. He commanded a minesweeper, a frigate and then a destroyer before taking over the aircraft carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and then achieving higher command in the Navy. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1995 to 1998: in that capacity he played a key role in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review carried out by the Labour Government that had come to power a year earlier.

Early life

Slater was the son of James Kirkwood Slater and Margaret Claire Byrom Bramwell, daughter of Dr Edwin Bramwell.[1]

Slater was educated in his early years at the Edinburgh Academy before attending Sedbergh School and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.[1] Slater is a great nephew of Admiral of the Fleet The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope who served as First Sea Lord during the Second World War.[2]

Naval career

Slater joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1956 and was confirmed in the rank of sub lieutenant on 1 January 1959.[3] During his early career he served in the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., the minesweeper Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia and the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"..[1] In 1965 he was given command of the minesweeper HMS Soberton, which he commanded on fishery protection duties,[4] before specialising in navigation.[1] He was posted to the shore establishment Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". later that year and then served in the aircraft carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and then the frigate Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". over the next two years.[1]

Slater became an Equerry to the Queen on 12 October 1968[5] and, having been promoted to lieutenant commander on 22 October 1968,[6] his services were recognised when he was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order on 15 October 1971.[7] Following promotion to commander on 31 December 1971,[8] he was given command of the frigate Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in 1972.[1] He was posted to the Directorate of Naval Operations at the Ministry of Defence in 1973 and, following promotion to captain on 30 June 1976,[9] he was given command of the destroyer Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in August of that year.[1] He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1978 and then became assistant director of Naval Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in 1979.[1] He went on to become the first commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". in May 1981 and then became Captain at the School of Maritime Operations and Commander of HMS Dryad in July 1983.[1]

File:HMS Illustrious 1.jpg
The aircraft carrier Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". which Slater commanded in the early 1980s

Slater was promoted to rear admiral on 18 June 1985,[10] on appointment as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy and Nuclear), and then promoted to vice admiral on 20 October 1987,[11] on appointment as Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as NATO Commander Northern Sub-Area Eastern Atlantic, NATO Commander Nore Sub-Area Channel and Commander HM Naval Base Rosyth.[1] Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1988 Birthday Honours,[12] he went on to be Chief of Fleet Support in March 1989.[1] He was promoted to full admiral on appointment as Commander-in-Chief Fleet as well as NATO Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic in January 1991.[1] Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1992 Birthday Honours,[13] he became Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in January 1993.[1]

Slater was appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in July 1995.[1] In that capacity he played a key role in the Strategic Defence Review carried out by the incoming Labour Government.[14] He retired in December 1998.[15]

Later career

In retirement Slater has served as a Non-Executive Director of VT Group and of Lockheed Martin UK.[1] He has also been Chairman of the executive committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Chairman of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 & 1785, Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum and Chairman of the Council of Management of the White Ensign Association.[1] He has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire,[16] an Elder Brother of Trinity House, a Prime Warden of the Shipwrights' Company, and a Freeman of the City of London.[1] His other interests mostly include outdoor activities.[1]

Family

In 1972 Slater married Ann Frances, daughter of William Scott OBE DL, by whom he has two sons (Charles and Rory).[1]

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, Template:ISBN
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Military offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland
1987–1989 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Chief of Fleet Support
1989–1991 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
1991–1992 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
1993–1995 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
First Sea Lord
1995–1998 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Chairman Board of Trustees,
Imperial War Museum
2001–2006 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Vice Chiefs of Defence Staff Script error: No such module "Military navigation". Template:Authority control

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