Admiral The Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead GCB DSC PC
12 March 2018
Admiral Lord West served in fourteen ships and commanded three. He commanded HMS ARDENT in the Falkland Islands where she was sunk in their successful recapture. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross he led the Victory Parade through the City of London. He was a carrier battle group commander for two years and took the 22 ship group to the Far East for the Hong Kong withdrawal. He served three years as head of Naval Intelligence and three years as Chief of Defence Intelligence during which time he provided intelligence for the Kosovo war. He was Commander-in-Chief Fleet for the invasion of Afghanistan and First Sea Lord for the invasion of Iraq.
On retiring he advised both Conservatives and Labour on defence and foreign policy before, in July 2007, becoming the Minister responsible for national security and counter-terrorism as well as cyber security. He produced the nations first National Security and Cyber Security Strategies. He left government in May 2010 and is currently chairman or strategic advisor to a number of companies, a motivational speaker, Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, Knight President of the Knights of the Round Table, media programme maker, philanthropist, plus a number of other appointments. He is much sought after to advise on strategic risk.
Lord West was made a Knight Commander of the Order of The Bath in 2000, Knight Grand Cross in 2004, Baron in 2007 and a Privy Counselor in 2010.
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