CAPTAIN RHETT HATCHER ROYAL NAVY

COMMANDING OFFICER - HMS PROTECTOR

Rhett Hatcher was born in Bulawayo, and educated in Somerset before joining Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a Midshipman.

After training, he served in bridge watchkeeping appointments in HMS Scylla and HMS Juno before specialising as a Lynx helicopter pilot. He completed four frontline tours in 829 and 815 Naval Air Squadrons, deploying to the Far East with HMS Boxer as part of ORIENT ’92 before serving in HM Ships Battleaxe and Brave and finally as Flight Commander in HMS Brazen. He joined the latter whilst on South Atlantic patrol, and subsequently completed a deployment to the Adriatic as part of the UN peacekeeping operation during the Balkans crisis. Following initial staff training at Greenwich and specialist warfare training at HMS Dryad, he took up an appointment as the Above Water Warfare officer in HMS Newcastle. The Ship sailed to the West Indies on Counter Drug operations, the Middle East as Carrier escort and the Adriatic in support of the forces in Kosovo. Rhett returned to 815 Squadron as the Senior Pilot followed by sea command of HMS Penzance. As part of the NATO Mine Counter Measures Force North, the Ship conducted a busy programme including live ordnance clearance operations in the Baltic.

Advanced staff training at Shrivenham, gaining a Masters in Defence Studies from Kings College London and selection for promotion to Commander preceded an appointment as the Naval Assistant to Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic and Commander Allied Naval Forces North. Following this Rhett joined the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters as the Operations Team Leader for Global Counter Terrorism, with specific focus on Op TELIC, the Middle East and Horn of Africa. Back at sea, he was the Executive Officer in HMS Bulwark during her period as the Amphibious Flagship and then did three staff jobs in the MOD; Joint Capability Force Protection with the lead for Counter IED, Navy Resource and Plans (Aviation & Carrier Strike) and then on promotion to Captain as the Assistant Head for UK Counter Terrorism and Resilience, including delivery of the defence contribution to the security of the London 2012 Olympics. He joined HMS Protector in March 2013 and recently became an Honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers.

Rhett is married to Jill and they live in the English Countryside. Together they enjoy traveling and a variety of outdoor pursuits including running, cycling and anything that slides on water or snow.