Commander D R Freeman

Originating from a farming family in Lincolnshire, Russel Freeman joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a Seaman Officer. Initial appointments to a MCMV as the gunnery officer and then as the communications and diving officer in a Type 42 preceded flying training, and in 1991 he qualified as a Lynx observer. The next six years saw a range of FF/DD-based aircrew appointing interrupted only by 5 months as the RN Liaison Officer in Italy during NATO Adriatic operations. His flying career culminated in appointments to HMS and HMS Edinburgh as the Flight Commander. Throughout this period he served in the Gulf, the Far East, , South Atlantic, Mediterranean and Baltic Sea.

In 1997 he took command of the mine-hunter HMS Inverness, conducting the first deployment of this class to the . An inaugural staff appointment, to CINCFLEET (Northwood), then preceded selection for the Advanced Command and Staff Course. He was subsequently appointed to the staff of the Commander UK Maritime Forces which included service with: the Combined Joint Force Air Component Commander in Saudi Arabia for Operation TELIC, and the UK Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain. His avoidance of the Ministry of Defence was then finally breached when he was appointed as the Military Assistant to a Capability Manager 2*. A welcome return to the Fleet Air Arm followed when he joined RNAS Yeovilton as the Operations and Plans Officer.

Promoted to Commander in July 2007, he returned to Northwood as the Fleet Security Officer, providing force protection advice in support of worldwide front line operations. Two years in the Future Personnel area of Navy Command followed, where he originated the RN Personnel Strategy to deliver the people component of Operational Capability out to 2025. He returned to Bahrain in Apr 12 in support of the EU’s counter-piracy operations, prior to taking command of HMS Temeraire.

Russel Freeman lives in Hampshire with his wife Rachel. An avid sportsman whose enthusiasm far outweighs his talents, he is happiest outdoors. Participation these days, however, is largely confined to the gym, the piste, the fairway and the touchline. A passionate but average golfer, he can usually be persuaded to make the time for (not 'time off' for) a round.