Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984.[7] After serving as an observer in the Fleet Air Arm, he saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in the frigateHMS Somerset during the Kosovo War in 1999.[7] After briefly serving as commanding officer of the minehunterHMS Sandown, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2000 and HMS Lancaster in 2001.[7] He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at the Ministry of Defence in 2003, then Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006. Following promotion to captain on 30 June 2006,[9] he was appointed a staff officer at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007.[7] After that he became commanding officer of the aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious in February 2009, Commodore Joint Air Maritime Organisation in February 2010 and Director of Naval Plans and Resources at the Ministry of Defence in May 2011.[10]
Key led Operation Pitting, the UK's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive, in August 2021 and,[19] on 15 October, it was announced that Key was to be the next First Sea Lord.[20][21] He assumed the post from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on 8 November 2021.[2]
Personal life
In 1994, Key married Elly.[8][22] Together they have three children: two sons and one daughter.[8]
References
^ a b"No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N2.
^ a b"Royal Navy welcomes new First Sea Lord". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. 8 November 2021.
^"Key, Vice Adm. Sir Benjamin John, (Sir Ben), (born 7 Nov. 1965), Chief of Joint Operations, since 2019". Who's Who 2022. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
^"Former Bromsgrove School student appointed Chief of Naval Staff". Bromsgrove Standard. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^"Foundation Lecture". Bromsgrove School. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^"Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key Biography". Windsor Leadership. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^ a b c d e"Commodore Ben Key RN". Worshipful Company of Feltmakers of London. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
^ a b c"Key, Adm. Sir Benjamin John, (Sir Ben), (born 7 Nov. 1965), First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, and First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King (formerly to the Queen), since 2021". Who's Who 2023. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
^"Vice Admiral B J Key CBE, Royal Navy Fleet Commander" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
^"Vice Admiral Ben Key CBE awarded Honorary Doctorate from Royal Holloway". Royal Holloway, University of London. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^Nicholls, Dominic (17 August 2021). "Taliban are in charge of security in Kabul, admits man in charge of British evacuation". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
^"Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE has been appointed to First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff". GOV.UK. 15 October 2021.
^Chuter, Andrew (16 October 2021). "Vice Adm. Ben Key gets nod as Britain's new First Sea Lord". Defense News. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
^"Why we support - Chief Of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Ben Key & Mrs Elly Key". www.rnrmc.org.uk. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2023.