Commodore Simon Kelly

Deputy Commander UK Strike Force

Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Simon joined the Royal Navy in 1998 as a Warfare Officer. As a junior officer he qualified as a Bridge Watch-keeping Officer, Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer, and Principal Warfare Officer. He saw service on operations across the world in destroyers, frigates and on exchange with the French Navy. Staff appointments include Chief of Staff to the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron. This included two deployments to the Gulf, where he was awarded a Chief of Joint Operations Commendation; an assignment to UK Strategic Command, where he established a team to provide Operational Assurance for the Joint Expeditionary Force Head Quarters and more recently the Fleet Operations Officer responsible for the delivery of Royal Navy global operations. He has had the privilege of being selected four times for command. He has been the Commanding Officer of five different Hunt and Sandown Class Mine Hunting Vessels, twice deploying on Op KIPION in the Gulf. He subsequently commanded HMS Westminster, a Type 23 Anti-submarine Warfare Frigate, undertaking duties as the UK Fleet Ready Escort and Towed Array Patrol Ship, with significant periods on operations in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. His final sea command was as Captain of HMS Albion, the RN’s High Readiness Amphibious Assault Ship. During this assignment he deployed twice as Commander Littoral Response Group (North), leading the RN Amphibious Task Group on operations in the Arctic, Baltic and Mediterranean. In May 2022 he was promoted to Commodore and appointed as Deputy Commander UK Strike Force. Simon is a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (MA Defence Studies, Kings College London), Higher Command and Staff Course and a Younger Brother of Trinity House. He is married to Samantha, an officer in the Royal Air Force and enjoys a range of outdoor sports, but most of all he just enjoys walking his dog on the South Downs.