Simon Williams (Royal Navy officer)

Simon Williams
Williams in 2018
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1978–2018
RankRear Admiral
CommandsNaval Secretary
HMS Cornwall
HMS Sheffield
HMS Brecon
Battles / warsGulf War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Officer of the Order of St John

Rear Admiral Simon Paul Williams, CB, CVO, OStJ is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Naval Secretary, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Flag Officer (Maritime Reserves) from March 2015 to June 2018.

Early life and education

Williams was educated at Kingsbridge School,[1] the City University London and the Britannia Royal Naval College.[2]

Williams joined the Royal Navy in 1978.[2] After taking charge of the minesweeper HMS Brecon, he became Commanding Officer of the frigate HMS Sheffield in 2001 and of the frigate HMS Cornwall in 2005.[2]

Williams became Director of Naval Personnel Strategy at the Ministry of Defence in 2008,[1] Commodore of the Britannia Royal Naval College in March 2011[2] and then Defence Services Secretary as well as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Training) in October 2012.[3] He went on to be Naval Secretary, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Flag Officer (Maritime Reserves) in March 2015.[4][5]

Williams was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2017 Birthday Honours.[6]

Williams was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John on 31 January 2024.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Meet Simon Williams Archived 2014-11-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c d Commodore takes charge of college This is Devon, 28 February 2011
  3. ^ Ministry of Defence & Tri-service senior appointments
  4. ^ "Simon Williams". Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Forward by Flag Officer Reserves" (PDF). The Maritime Reservist. Spring 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B2.
  7. ^ "No. 64319". The London Gazette. 16 February 2024. p. 3246.
Military offices
Preceded by Defence Services Secretary
2012–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Naval Secretary
2015–2018 		Succeeded by