Lieutenant Commander Ian J Critchley Royal Navy Commanding Officer HMS CHARGER and Officer In Charge Liverpool URNU Born in Southport in 1984, Ian was educated at Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Walsall before joining BRNC Dartmouth in Sep 02. After passing out from the college in Aug 03 he then spent his Common and Specialist Fleet time in HMS Glasgow, HMS Ramsey and HMS Quorn which involved West Africa, Baltic and Fishery Protection deployments. Passing Junior Warfare Officers Course in May 05, he spent four months appointed to the Trafalgar 200 Project, working on the arrangements for the International Fleet Review and Festival of the Sea. Having completed the surface phase of initial training, Ian joined the Royal Navy Submarine School (RNSMS) in HMS Raleigh and completed basic submarine training in Dec 05. Having joined his first submarine, HMS Trenchant, in Jan 06 he was immediately loaned to HMS Trafalgar to complete his Basic Submarine Qualification during a 6 month West and South Atlantic Deployment. Returning to HMS Trenchant in Aug 06 he took on the role of Casing Officer during a busy and challenging running period consisting of Operational Sea training, West Atlantic and Mediterranean Deployments. After leaving the Submarine in Nov 07, he completed both Fleet Navigating Officers Course and Intermediate Warfare Course (SM), rejoining HMS Trenchant as Navigating Officer in May 08. During his time as Navigator he was involved in North Atlantic Operations and two challenging East of Suez deployments. Having left HMS Trenchant in Dec 09, Ian joined Fleet Operations to work as a Duty Submarine Controller for the UK Submarine Operating Authority (CTF 311), a year which served to broaden his experience of the wider RN organisation in preparation for future roles within the Submarine Service. In Jan 11 he left CTF 311 and returned to RNSMS for the newly titled PWO(SM) course. After successful completion of the course he joined HMS Tireless as the Tactics and Sonar Officer and undertook a challenging period of North Atlantic Operations and UK running including Submarine Command Course. After leaving HMS Tireless in Sep 12, Ian took command of HMS Charger and Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit 2 months later. Despite being born in Southport, Ian spent most of his childhood just North of Birmingham in Sutton Coldfield, where his family and fiancée Nina still live. In his spare time he enjoys surfing in Cornwall and has recently taken up road cycling and mountain biking. He also enjoys foreign travel, especially to warm topical surfing destinations. .