Sir Alan Massey | |
---|---|
Born | 9 March 1953 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Navy |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Commands held |
HMS Illustrious HMS Ark Royal Naval Home Command |
Battles/wars |
Afghanistan War Iraq War |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Vice Admiral Sir Alan Michael Massey, KCB, CBE (born 9 March 1953) is a former senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as the Second Sea Lord.
Educated at the University of Liverpool and Britannia Royal Naval College, Alan Massey saw service as captain of HMS Newcastle, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Illustrious during operations against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 and as captain of HMS Ark Royal when he led the amphibious assault into Iraq in 2003. He led the Operations Division of the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood and then went on to be Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in July 2005. He assumed office as Second Sea Lord in a ceremony aboard HMS Victory in July 2008.
Having left the Navy, Massey was appointed Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 20 July 2010.
He and his wife, Julie, live in Southsea with their four children, James, Bella, Tom and Sally. Lady Julie Massey is sponsor of Royal Navy's destroyer HMS Defender.
On 31 October 2003, Massey was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services whilst on operations in Iraq during the period 19th March to 19th April 2003". He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours. He is a recipient of two campaign medals: the Iraq Medal and the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan.