Quick Facts
Biography
Rear Admiral Martin John Connell, CBE (born 1968) is a senior Royal Navy officer currently serving as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers) and as Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm.
Naval career
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 on HMS Coventry and HMS Manchester, before instructing observers on 815 Naval Air Squadron. He was given command of the offshore patrol vessel HMS Severn in 2003, of the frigate HMS Chatham in 2006, in which role he was deployed on Operation Telic, and of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 2012.
Connell 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. Since 2019, he has served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers) as well as head of the Fleet Air Arm. 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.