Many, many congratulations on a great achievement, against some trying conditions. I have been particularly impressed by your combined determination. Well done.
Message sent by Admiral Sir James to the team at the North Pole.
Admiral sir james burnell-nugent kcb cbe
Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET)
Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic (CINCEASTLANT)
Commander Allied Naval Forces North (COMNAVNORTH)
James Burnell-Nugent joined the Royal Navy in 1971 after reading Mathematics at Cambridge. He has commanded in every rank from Lieutenant to Admiral, including flying his flag in all three RN aircraft carriers and HMS Ocean. He took up his present post in November 2005. As Commander-in Chief Fleet, he has full command of all deployable Fleet units, including the Royal Marines. As the sole UK based 4 star NATO Commander, he is the maritime advisor to the Joint Force Commander (Brunssum) and has to be prepared in all respects to participate in joint and combined operations. He is also responsible for key maritime elements of the Standing NATO Response Force.
He commanded the conventional submarine HMS Olympus 1979-80 and the nuclear powered submarine HMS Conqueror 1984-86, carrying out many Cold War patrols. In command of the frigate HMS Brilliant 1992-93, he was involved in the early stages of the Bosnia Crisis. He commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible 1997-99 when she made two joint operational deployments to the Gulf for air operations over Iraq and then conducted further air operations during the Kosovo Crisis. On return he was awarded the CBE. As Commander UK Maritime Forces 2001-02, he was Maritime Commander of the UK Joint Force and the Deputy Maritime Commander of the Coalition Force for the campaign in Afghanistan and other aspects of the “War on Terror”.
In between these operational duties he has served in the Ministry of Defence, both on the Central and Naval Staffs, and gained cross-Whitehall experience while seconded to HM Treasury. In most of these appointments he has been involved in leadership and management of change issues. He remains on the Admiralty Board, having been a member from 1999-2000 as the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and from 2003-2005 as Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command with personnel responsibility for the whole RN and RM. He was knighted in 2004. As Commander-in-Chief Fleet he also holds the honorary post of Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom.
James Burnell-Nugent's wife, Mary, is a consultant in palliative medicine. She is Medical Director of the St Luke's Hospice Service in Plymouth and also Chairman of South Hams Radio. They have four children - Etta 27, Anthony 25, Rupert 23 (all working in London) and Tom who is 19 (at Edinburgh University). At their smallholding in Devon, they have a host of animals, including a flock of pedigree Black Welsh Mountain sheep.
James Burnell-Nugent joined the Royal Navy in 1971 after reading Mathematics at Cambridge. He has commanded in every rank from Lieutenant to Admiral, including flying his flag in all three RN aircraft carriers and HMS Ocean. He took up his present post in November 2005. As Commander-in Chief Fleet, he has full command of all deployable Fleet units, including the Royal Marines. As the sole UK based 4 star NATO Commander, he is the maritime advisor to the Joint Force Commander (Brunssum) and has to be prepared in all respects to participate in joint and combined operations. He is also responsible for key maritime elements of the Standing NATO Response Force. 