| Sir Michael Layard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 January 1936 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1954 - 1996 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | RNAS Culdrose HMS Cardiff Naval Home Command |
| Battles/wars | Falklands War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
Admiral Sir Michael Henry Gordon Layard KCB CBE (born 3 January 1936) is a senior Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Sea Lord.
Educated at Pangbourne College and the Britannia Royal Naval College, Layard was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1954.[1] He trained as a fighter pilot and in 1970 he took command of 899 Naval Air Squadron flying Sea Vixens.[1] He became Commander (Air) in HMS Ark Royal in 1977 and Chief Staff Officer to the Flag Officer, Naval Air Command in 1979.[1] During the Falklands War he was Senior Naval Officer in the MV Atlantic Conveyor[1] which was sunk by two exocet missiles.[2]
In 1982 he became Commander of RNAS Culdrose and in 1984 he was made Captain of the destroyer, HMS Cardiff.[1] He became Director Naval Warfare (Air) at the Ministry of Defence in 1985, Flag Officer Naval Air Command in 1988 and Director General Naval Manpower & Training in 1990.[1] In 1992 he was made Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel and from 1994 he was asked to combine this role with that of Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.[1]
In retirement he became a Trustee of the Fleet Air Arm Museum.[3]
He owns a 32 foot yacht, Banjo.[4]
In 1966 he married Elspeth Horsley Fisher and they went on to have two sons.[1]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Michael Livesay |
Second Sea Lord 1992–1995 |
Succeeded by Sir Michael Boyce |
| Preceded by Sir John Kerr |
Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command 1993–1995 |
|
| Court offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Edward Burgess |
Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State 1997–2005 |
Succeeded by Sir John Allison |