Profile: Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope

Adm Stanhope will take up his new post next July (Pic: Royal Navy)

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who has been named as the next head of the Royal Navy, was a Cold War submarine commander who also commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.

Adm Stanhope, who is currently the fleet's commander-in-chief, will take up his new post as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in July next year.

His present role gives him command of all deployable fleet units, including the Royal Marines, and he is also a Nato commander.

Adm Stanhope joined the Royal Navy in 1970 and has also commanded the submarines HMS Orpheus and HMS Splendid, and the frigate HMS London.

He was a teacher on the Royal Navy's Perisher course for those aiming to become submarine commanders.

He has worked for both the Naval Staff and the Chief of Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence, and was seconded to the Cabinet Office in 2002.

Physics degree

His first Nato assignment was at the regional headquarters of Allied Forces North, in Holland. He served as the fleet's deputy commander-in-chief before a Nato appointment in Virginia in the US.

Adm Stanhope was awarded the OBE in 1990 and was knighted in 2004. He has also received the US Legion of Merit.

He is a Freeman of the City of London and a fellow of the Nautical Institute.

While a junior officer, Adm Stanhope read physics at St Peter's College, Oxford. He trained at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Adm Stanhope, 56, lives with his wife in the West Country and they have one grown-up daughter. He says his interests are family life, reading and sailing.

He will be replaced in his current job by Vice Admiral Trevor Soar who will be promoted to the rank of admiral.

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