Years of service 1979–2015 | Name David Steel Rank Vice admiral | |
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Born 6 April 1961 (age 62) ( 1961-04-06 ) Commands held Second Sea LordNaval SecretaryHM Naval Base Portsmouth Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the British EmpireQueen's Commendation for Valuable Service | ||
Vice Admiral Sir David George Steel (born 6 April 1961) is a Royal Navy officer who, until 10 March 2015, served as Second Sea Lord.
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Early life
Steel was born on 6 April 1961. He was educated at Rossall School in Lancashire and attended Durham University where he read law, graduating in 1983. He was called to the bar in 1988.
Military career
Steel joined the Royal Navy in 1979. His early career was spent in a variety of sea and shore appointments, including as the Fleet Legal Adviser. In December 1999, while serving in the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, he was commended for valuable service in support of operations in Kosovo and Macedonia earlier that year. In November 2005 he assumed command of HM Naval Base Portsmouth and in that capacity was honoured for his "inspirational leadership" during the battle against government cuts in 2007. He was also appointed Chief Naval Logistics Officer and ADC to Her Majesty The Queen. In November 2008 he was appointed Director of Service Personnel Policy (Pay and Allowances) at the Ministry of Defence and, in April 2010, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed Naval Secretary. He was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Second Sea Lord in October 2012.
Already Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours.
Later professional life
In 2011, Steel was appointed as a Director of Portsmouth Cultural Trust. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire, a Freeman of the City of London, a Trustee of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets, and a Bencher of the Middle Temple. He is also a Trustee of the Boleh Trust and an ambassador for the Woodland Trust.