David Steel (Royal Navy officer)
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Charles III
Sir David Steel | |
|---|---|
 Steel in 2021 | |
| Governor of Gibraltar | |
| In office 11 June 2020 – 23 May 2024 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Chief Minister | Fabian Picardo |
| Preceded by | Edward Davis |
| Succeeded by | Sir Ben Bathurst |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 April 1961 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1979–2015 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands | Second Sea Lord Naval Secretary HM Naval Base Portsmouth |
| Battles/wars | Kosovo War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service Knight of Justice of the Order of St John |
Vice Admiral Sir David George Steel, KBE, KStJ, DL (born 6 April 1961) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord between 2012 and 2015. He served as Governor of Gibraltar from 2020 to 2024.
Steel was born on 6 April 1961. He was educated at Rossall School in Lancashire and attended Durham University where he read law, graduating in 1983.[1] He was called to the bar in 1988.[2]
Military career
Steel joined the Royal Navy in 1979.[2] His early career was spent in a variety of sea and shore appointments, including as the Fleet Legal Adviser. In December 1999, while serving in the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in support of operations in Kosovo and Macedonia earlier that year.[3] In November 2005 he assumed command of HM Naval Base Portsmouth and in that capacity was honoured for his "inspirational leadership" during the Government's savings review of Naval Bases in 2007.[4] He was also appointed Chief Naval Logistics Officer and Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen.[5]
In November 2008 Steel was appointed Director of Service Personnel Policy (Pay and Allowances) at the Ministry of Defence and,[6] in April 2010, he was promoted to rear admiral and appointed Naval Secretary.[7] He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Second Sea Lord in October 2012.[8]
Already a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Steel was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours.[9][10] He was appointed a Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) on 11 November 2020.[11]
