Jock Slater - Naval Career

Naval Career

Slater joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1956 and was confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant on 1 January 1959. During his early career he served in the destroyer HMS Troubridge, the minesweeper HMS Yaxham, the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia and the destroyer HMS Cassandra. In 1965 he was given command of the minesweeper HMS Soberton, which he commanded on fishery protection duties, before specialising in navigation. He was posted to the shore establishment HMS Dryad later that year and then served in the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious and then the frigate HMS Scarborough over the next two years.

Slater became an Equerry to the Queen on 12 October 1968 and, having been promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 22 October 1968, his services were recognised when he was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order on 15 October 1971. Following promotion to Commander on 31 December 1971, he was given command of the frigate HMS Jupiter in 1972. He was posted to the Directorate of Naval Operations at the Ministry of Defence in 1973 and, following promotion to Captain on 30 June 1976, he was given command of the destroyer HMS Kent in August of that year. He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1978 and then became Assistant Director of Naval Warfare at the Ministry of Defence in 1979. He went on to become commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in May 1981 and then became Captain at the School of Maritime Operations and Commander of HMS Dryad in July 1983.

Slater was promoted to Rear Admiral on 18 June 1985, on appointment as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy and Nuclear), and then promoted to Vice Admiral on 20 October 1987, on appointment as Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as NATO Commander Northern Sub-Area Eastern Atlantic, NATO Commander Nore Sub-Area Channel and Commander HM Naval Base Rosyth. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1988 Birthday Honours, he went on to be Chief of Fleet Support in March 1989. He was promoted to full Admiral on appointment as Commander-in-Chief Fleet as well as NATO Commander-in-Chief, Channel and Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic in January 1991. Advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1992 Birthday Honours, he became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in January 1993.

Slater was appointed First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in July 1995. In that capacity he played a key role in the Strategic Defence Review carried out by the incoming Labour Government. He retired in October 1998.