ASWI 61st Anniversary DINNER 2016

Copthorne Hotel Plymouth

[acc title="Guest Speaker - Rear Admiral John Clink OBE" style="style3" ]

John Clink was born in Hillingdon and made in the Royal Navy. He is delighted to be Flag Officer Sea Training and works with his team to train Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel to the exacting benchmark expected of a World Class Navy, as well as providing training to our Allies and other Navies. He guards the Royal Navy's reputation for excellence in training by not compromising on enduring high standards through training, coaching and mentoring in order to ensure that sailors and marines realise their full potential and the Royal Navy is able to fight and win. He believes passionately in developing leadership skills at all levels to give the Royal Navy the battle-winning edge, whilst valuing all in the naval family. He likes nothing better than visiting ships and submarines, ideally at sea, admires greatly the Royal Marines and has a soft spot for the Fleet Air Arm. He is a very keen golfer and is the President of the Royal Navy Golf Association. He is married to Jacqueline and they have two sons, Ben and Olly.

His early career was spent entirely at sea in navigating and bridge watchkeeping appointments. He commanded Aberdeen University Royal Naval Unit and the attached patrol boat, HMS ARCHER, before training as a Principal Warfare Officer and joining the frigate HMS LONDON. The ship saw service in the Adriatic as part of the UK and NATO peacekeeping forces in Bosnia.

He then specialised in navigation, spending a year on the NATO staff of the Commander Standing Naval Force Atlantic before navigating the aircraft carrier HMS INVINCIBLE, deploying twice to the Arabian Gulf to enforce UN resolutions against Iraq and then to contribute to NATOÕs air campaign against Serbia during the Kosovo Crisis.

He then commanded the new Type 23 frigate, HMS KENT, bringing her into service and deploying to the Arabian Gulf. The ship was at the forefront of Coalition Forces enforcing the UN sanctions against Iraq as well as conducting Operation Enduring Freedom against the Al-Qaeda Network. He was made an OBE in the 2002 Operational Honours.

Ashore, he has been responsible for day-to-day direction of the surface fleet and running the personal office of the Second Sea Lord. He conducted an operational command tour to Iraq leading the Naval Training Team, where he was awarded the United States Bronze Star. In the Ministry of Defence, he was responsible for the Royal NavyÕs international relations as well as liaison with other maritime organisations. A graduate of the Higher Command & Staff Course, he commanded the aircraft carrier and Fleet Flagship, HMS ARK ROYAL, including her final Carrier Strike deployment to the Western Atlantic. He was a member of the Royal College of Defence Studies, graduating with an MA in International Security and Strategy from KingÕs College London. He then commanded Coalition Task Force 150 countering terrorism in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Then, as Deputy Commander UK Maritime Forces, his focus was on operational doctrine development and training with US Carrier Battle Groups. This was followed by command of British Forces Gibraltar leading a major change programme to establish an efficient Forward Mounting Base, during a period of unprecedented tension with Spain. His last appointment was as Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.

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