Simon Asquith

Vice Admiral Simon Phillip Asquith, CB, OBE (born 7 March 1972) is a senior Royal Navy officer who has served as chief of staff to Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO since 2024. He had been Director of Submarines for the Royal Navy from April 2022 to 2024.

Simon Asquith
Captain Asquith in 2015
Born	(1972-03-07) 7 March 1972 (age 53) Bradford, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1990–present
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Commander Operations HMS Portland HMS Talent
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Early life

Asquith was educated at the University of Plymouth (BA Maritime Studies) and King's College London (MA Defence Studies, 2012).^[1]

Naval career

Asquith joined the Royal Navy in September 1990,^[2] and went on to become commanding officer of the submarine HMS Talent in 2008.^[3] After that he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Portland in September 2015,^[4] Assistant Director Higher Command and Staff Course in January 2016, and Deputy Commander of UK Maritime Component Command in the Middle East in May 2017.^[5] He then became Chief of Staff, Standing Joint Force in April 2018 and,^[6] after being promoted to rear admiral on 14 October 2019,^[7] he became Commander Operations in November 2019.^[8] He was promoted to vice admiral on 8 July 2024,^[9] and now serves as chief of staff to Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO.^[10]

Asquith was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 New Year Honours,^[11] and a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2022 Birthday Honours.^[12]