Years of service 1969 - 2006 Battles and wars Iraq War Battles/wars Iraq War Service/branch Royal Navy | Name David Snelson Allegiance United Kingdom Awards Order of the Bath Rank Rear admiral | |
 | ||
Commands held HMS Liverpool
HMS Ark Royal | ||
Rear Admiral David George Snelson CB (born 27 May 1951) is a former Royal Navy officer who became Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces.
Naval career
Snelson joined the Royal Navy in 1969. He became Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMS Liverpool in 1997, Director of Naval Operations and Trade at the Ministry of Defence in 1998 and Director of Navy Staff Duties in 1999 before commanding the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in 2001 and then being appointed Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces in 2002. In March 2003 he was the Royal Navy Commander for Operation Telic during which he led maritime operations for the Invasion of Iraq from his headquarters ashore in Bahrain. He went on to be Chief of Staff (Warfare) for the Fleet in 2004 before retiring in 2006.
In retirement he became Chief Harbour Master for the Port of London Authority.