Ben Key

Sir Benjamin John Key, (born 7 November 1965) is a former Royal Navy Admiral. He served as First Sea Lord from November 2021. On 2 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced that his service and commission had been terminated following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour which found him to have "fallen far short of the values and standards expected of service personnel". Key had commanded HM Ships Sandown, Iron Duke, Lancaster, and Illustrious, and deployed on operations to Kosovo and Iraq. He was appointed Fleet Commander in 2016, and the Chief of Joint Operations in 2019.

Infobox

Born

(1965-11-07) 7 November 1965 (age 60)

Allegiance

United Kingdom

Branch

Royal Navy

Years of service

1984–2025

Rank

Admiral

Service number

C031724D

Commands

First Sea LordChief of Joint OperationsFleet CommanderHMS IllustriousHMS LancasterHMS Iron DukeHMS Sandown

Battles / wars

Kosovo WarIraq War

Awards

Knight Commander of the Order of the BathCommander of the Order of the British EmpireBronze Star Medal (United States)

Alma mater

Royal Holloway, University of London Britannia Royal Naval College

Service years

1984–2025

Tables

· Honours and decorations

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of the Bath	Appointed Knight Commander in 2021
	Order of the British Empire	Appointed Commander in 2016
	NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
	NATO Medal for Kosovo	1999
	Iraq Medal	2006
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	6 February 2002
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	6 February 2012
	Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal	6 February 2022
	King Charles III Coronation Medal	6 May 2023
	Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848)	With 2 Bars
	Bronze Star Medal	Awarded in 2006

· References

Preceded byClive Johnstone

Military offices

Preceded byClive Johnstone

Military offices

Flag Officer Sea Training 2013–2015

Military offices

Succeeded byJohn Clink

Preceded bySir Philip Jones

Military offices

Preceded bySir Philip Jones

Military offices

Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff 2016–2019

Military offices

Succeeded byJerry Kyd

Preceded byTim Fraser

Military offices

Preceded byTim Fraser

Military offices

Chief of Joint Operations 2019–2021

Military offices

Succeeded byCharles Stickland

Preceded bySir Tony Radakin

Military offices

Preceded bySir Tony Radakin

Military offices

First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff 2021–2025

Military offices

Succeeded bySir Gwyn Jenkins

Military offices
Preceded byClive Johnstone	Flag Officer Sea Training 2013–2015	Succeeded byJohn Clink
Preceded bySir Philip Jones	Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff 2016–2019	Succeeded byJerry Kyd
Preceded byTim Fraser	Chief of Joint Operations 2019–2021	Succeeded byCharles Stickland
Preceded bySir Tony Radakin	First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff 2021–2025	Succeeded bySir Gwyn Jenkins

References

The London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63218/supplement/N2
Royal Navy
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/november/08/20211108-1sl-supersession
Yahoo News
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/former-navy-head-sacked-falling-162345467.html
Who's Who
https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U281219
Bromsgrove Standard
https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/news/former-bromsgrove-school-student-appointed-chief-of-naval-staff/
"Foundation Lecture"
https://web.archive.org/web/20250119035136/https://www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/schoolnews/foundation-lecture/1023.aspx
"Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key Biography"
https://windsorleadership.org.uk/vice-admiral-ben-key-biography
"Commodore Ben Key RN"
http://www.feltmakers.co.uk/we-welcome-to-the-livery-in-2010
The London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58034/supplement/9059
"Senior Royal Navy Appointments"
http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf
"Senior Tri-Service and Ministry of Defence Appointments"
https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033054/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf
Torquay Herald Express
http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Rear-Admiral-visits-BRNC-Dartmouth/story-19044830-detail/story.html
Royal Navy
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/february/10/160210-new-fleet-commander
The London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/61513/supplement/4342
"Admirals: July 2023"
http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Admirals-Current.pdf
The London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/61450/supplement/N5
Royal Navy
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/~/media/royal%20navy%20responsive/documents/profiles/key%20ben.pdf
Royal Holloway, University of London
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/news/vice-admiral-ben-key-cbe-awarded-honorary-doctorate-from-royal-holloway/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/08/17/vice-admiral-ben-key-taliban-now-charge-security-kabul/
GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vice-admiral-sir-ben-key-kcb-cbe-has-been-appointed-to-first-sea-lord-and-chief-of-the-naval-staff
Defense News
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/10/15/vice-adm-ben-key-gets-nod-as-britains-new-first-sea-lord/
The Daily Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/09/royal-navy-chief-ben-key-affair-female-subordinate/
Sky News
https://news.sky.com/story/head-of-royal-navy-steps-back-after-investigation-into-alleged-relationship-with-female-colleague-13364782
Sky News
https://news.sky.com/story/former-head-of-royal-navy-sacked-13391552
BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g8zz840ydo
www.rnrmc.org.uk
https://www.rnrmc.org.uk/why-we-support-vice-admiral-ben-key-mrs-elly-key
"United Kingdom's First Sea Lord visits SHAPE with a focus on Maritime Operations"
https://shape.nato.int/news-archive/2024/united-kingdoms-first-sea-lord-visits-shape