British submariner named Commander of UK forces in Gibraltar

Monday, June 9th 2014 - 06:57 UTC

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British naval officer in charge of the UK’s submarine fleet has been appointed as the new Commander British Forces in Gibraltar, with effect from August 5. Commodore Ian McGhrie will succeed Commodore John Clink, who will be promoted to Rear Admiral and will take on the 2-Star appointment of Flag Officer Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England and Flag Officer Reserves.

Commodore McGhie currently serves as the Captain Faslane Flotilla, where he has responsibility for all UK submarines.

The job involves the generation of Force Elements at Readiness and Sustainability and includes leadership to the Commanding Officers and crews of Vanguard and Astute Class submarines, First Mine Counter-Measure Squadron units and the Patrol Boat Squadron.

As a career submariner he was the Navigating Officer for HMS Oracle and HMS Scepter and Staff Navigator on HMS Dolphin.

He also served as Military Assistant to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, before being appointed Chief of Staff to Commander Amphibious Task Group, working closely with 3 Commando Brigade which included a deployment to the Arabian Gulf.

He has also served as Watch Leader on HMS Triumph and Executive Officer of HMS Talent, before going on to Command HMS Splendid.

He was promoted to Captain in 2008, where he spent a year in Defence Intelligence before being dispatched to the Cabinet Office to help stand-up the Office of Cyber Security in 2009-2011.

Commodore McGhie is married to Doreen, who will accompany him to Gibraltar, and they have two daughters, Gabrielle and Aynsleigh who are both at university.