| Martin Connell | |
| Birth Place: | Yorkshire, United Kingdom[1] |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1987–present |
| Rank: | Vice Admiral |
| Servicenumber: | C034297Q |
| Commands: | Second Sea Lord Fleet Air Arm Amphibious Task Group |
| Battles: | Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards: | Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Vice Admiral Martin John Connell, (born 1968) is a senior Royal Navy officer currently serving as Second Sea Lord.
Connell joined the Royal Navy in 1987 as a Lynx Observer. He then went on to become a Qualified Observer Instructor (QOI) at 702 Naval Air Squadron before becoming a Flight Commander in HMS Coventry and HMS Manchester, before instructing observers on 815 Naval Air Squadron.[2] He was given command of the offshore patrol vessel in 2003. As the commanding officer of the frigate, Connell led maritime operations in support of Operation Telic.[3] The ship was known for successfully protecting Iraqi offshore oil platforms, anti piracy actions, and for interdicting a large shipment of illegal drugs.[4]
Connell was promoted to the rank of captain on 5 September 2011. He took command of the aircraft carrier in 2012. He was promoted to commodore on 10 February 2015. He went on to be appointed Commander Amphibious Task Group in 2015, and naval attaché in Washington, D.C. in 2016.[5] Since 2019, he has served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) as well as head of the Fleet Air Arm.[6] He is a recipient of the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with one clasp.
Connell was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours.
Until 2022 he was serving as Director Force Generation under the Fleet Commander. On 14 January 2022, newly promoted Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse became Director Force Generation as Connell was promoted and appointed as Second Sea Lord.[7]
It was announced in January 2022, that Connell would become Second Sea Lord taking over from Vice Admiral Nick Hine.[8] Connell formally took over as Second Sea Lord later that month.[9] In the role, Connell is responsible for delivering the Royal Navy’s future capabilities, including the SSN-AUKUS submarines.[10] [11] Connell is reported to be an advocate for increasing the UK's of shipbuilding, surface vehicles and subsurface, crewed and un-crewed, prioritising "offensive strike capability over all else."[12]
Connell is a graduate of the United States Naval War College where he took the Naval Command College Course in 2004-05.[13] [14] He completed the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2011, the US CAPSTONE Course in 2017 and UK Pinnacle in 2021.
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