James Morse

Early life and education

Morse was educated at the University of Bristol (BSc, 1985) and King's College London (MA International Relations, 2007).

Naval career

Morse joined the Royal Navy in 1982. He was given command of the Bristol University Royal Naval Unit and then the patrol craft HMS Dasher in 1991. After attending the principal warfare officer’s course in 1993, he became operations officer in the frigate HMS Monmouth. Having attended the specialist navigating officer’s course, he became squadron navigator of the Fourth Frigate Squadron and was then given command of the frigate HMS Sutherland in 1997. He joined the Permanent Joint Headquarters in 1999 and was then made commanding officer of the frigate HMS Norfolk before becoming executive officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in November 2001. He went on to be Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord in 2004 and, after attending the Joint Services Command and Staff College, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Chatham in August 2005.

Morse became Director of Force Development in September 2007, commander of the United Kingdom Task Group in December 2008 and liaison officer to the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff in September 2011. He went on to be Commandant of the Joint Services Command and Staff College in August 2012 and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) and Controller of the Navy in September 2014. Morse handed over his duty to Rear Admiral Paul Bennett on 23 May 2016.

He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2016 New Year Honours.

He retired from the Royal Navy in 2016 and became President of Rabdan Academy in August 2016.