Andrew Burns (Royal Navy officer)

Andrew Burns
Vice Admiral Burns in 2022
Born (1969-11-20) 20 November 1969 (age 55)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1992–present
RankVice Admiral
CommandsFleet Commander
United Kingdom Maritime Forces
Amphibious Task Group
HMS Bulwark
HMS Somerset
HMS Berkeley
Battles / warsIraq War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Vice Admiral Andrew Paul Burns, CB, OBE (born 20 November 1969) is a senior Royal Navy officer. He has served as Fleet Commander since September 2021.

Educated at Portsmouth Grammar School, Sherborne School and Durham University (Hatfield College) (1989–1992),[1] Burns joined the Royal Navy in 1992.[2] He also holds an MA degree in Defence Studies from King's College London. He was given command of the minesweeper HMS Berkeley in 2000 and, after being deployed to Iraq as a Director for Communications and Information Systems in 2004, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Somerset in 2009 and then of the assault ship HMS Bulwark in 2012.[2] He became Principal Staff Officer to the Commander Joint Forces Command in 2013,[2] and Commander Amphibious Task Group in May 2016.[3]

In February 2019, Burns was promoted to rear admiral,[4] and appointed Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Rear Admiral Surface Ships.[5][6] He was appointed Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability) in January 2020[7] and was also given the title of Director Develop as of September 2020.[8] He was promoted to vice admiral and took up the post of Fleet Commander in September 2021.[9]

Honours

Burns was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 Birthday Honours,[10] and Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[11]

He received the 2nd Clasp to the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2024.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Members' News" (PDF). Hatfield Record: 177. 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Commodore Andrew Burns OBE" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  4. ^ "No. 62610". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 April 2019. p. 6430.
  5. ^ "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces Network. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Andrew Burns" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  7. ^ Mackie, Colin (7 January 2020). "Admirals January 2020" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 7 January 2020. Rear-Admiral Andrew P. Burns: Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability), January 2020
  8. ^ "Director Develop or Director Development in Navy Command" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020. n response toyour request,I can advise that the position of Director Develop is held by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns.
  9. ^ "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  10. ^ "No. 61256". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2015. p. B6.
  11. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B2.
  12. ^ "No. 64528". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 2024. p. 18966.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces
(Commander United Kingdom Strike Force from late 2019)
February 2019 – December 2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Controller of the Navy
2020–2021 		Succeeded by
James Parkin
Preceded by Fleet Commander
2021–present 		Incumbent