Ben Key

Key was born on 7 November 1965.^[4] He was educated at Bromsgrove School, a private school in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.^[5][6][7] He studied physics at Royal Holloway, University of London,^[8] graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1988.^[4]

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984.^[8] After serving as an observer in the Fleet Air Arm, he saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in the frigate HMS Somerset during the Kosovo War in 1999.^[8] After briefly serving as commanding officer of the minehunter HMS Sandown, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2000 and HMS Lancaster in 2001.^[8] He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at the Ministry of Defence in 2003, then Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006. Following promotion to captain on 30 June 2006,^[9] he was appointed a staff officer at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007.^[8] After that he became commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in February 2009, Commodore Joint Air Maritime Organisation in February 2010 and Director of Naval Plans and Resources at the Ministry of Defence in May 2011.^[10]

Key was appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2011,^[11] and Flag Officer Sea Training in April 2013.^[12] He was appointed Fleet Commander and promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 10 February 2016.^[13][14] He became Chief of Joint Operations in April 2019.^[15]

Key received the United States Bronze Star Medal in 2006 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours,^[16][17] and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2021 New Year Honours.^[1] He was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by Royal Holloway, University of London on 20 December 2018.^[18]

Key led Operation Pitting, the UK's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive, in August 2021 and,^[19] on 15 October, it was announced that Key was to be the next First Sea Lord.^[20][21] He assumed the post from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on 8 November 2021.^[2]

On 9 May 2025, it was reported that Key had attempted to resign, citing personal reasons, but that his resignation had been rejected and that he was under investigation for engaging in a personal relationship with a subordinate.^[22][23]

On 2 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced that, following the investigation, Key's Royal Navy service and commission had been terminated.^[3][24] The BBC reported that Key had violated the military's code of conduct by having an affair with a more junior female officer.^[25]

In 1994, Key married Elly.^[4][26] Together they have two sons and one daughter.^[4]

Source:^[27]

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of the Bath	Appointed Knight Commander in 2021[1]
	Order of the British Empire	Appointed Commander in 2016[16]
	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
	NATO Medal for Kosovo	1999
	Iraq Medal	2006
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	6 February 2002
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	6 February 2012
	Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal	6 February 2022
	King Charles III Coronation Medal	6 May 2023
	Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848)	With 2 Bars
	Bronze Star Medal	Awarded in 2006