Captain R J Cox Royal Navy Captain Rex Cox assumed Command of HMS Dragon and with it the post of Captain Above Water Warfare in April 2014. Joining the Royal Navy in 1988 he cut his teeth as a Junior Warfare Officer in a variety of ships. He navigated HMS EXETER and served a rewarding 2 year exchange appointment with the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Fast Patrol Boat Flotilla, culminating with him attending the FPB Commanding Officers’ Course. Qualified as a Principal Warfare Officer (Above Water Warfare) and having specialised in Anti-Air Warfare, he served as Operations Officer in HMS LIVERPOOL at a time when the Ship saw service as escort to the Fleet Flagship and Air Defence Commander during Operation Telic 1 (Iraq). He has commanded 3 ships: HMS SEVERN, an Off Shore Patrol Vessel tasked on Fisheries Protection; and the Type 42 Air Defence Destroyers HMS YORK and HMS MANCHESTER, which included a deployment to the Caribbean on counter-drugs and disaster relief operations, providing support in the aftermath of several hurricanes, in particular to St Lucia following Hurricane Tomas. A graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course, shore appointments have included: the Maritime Warfare School as the lead instructor on the PWO Course; the UK Maritime Battle Staff, deployed to Iraq with responsibility for training the Iraqi Navy and Marines in the Force Protection of Iraq’s strategic oil terminals; and latterly, to the Military Capability Strategy Management area within the Ministry of Defence. Married, with a young daughter, he is a rugby enthusiast who spends his spare time sailing, skiing and maintaining close links with Norway. .