Peter Wilkinson (Royal Navy officer)

Peter John Wilkinson
Born (1956-05-28) 28 May 1956
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service 1975-2010
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held HMS Otter
HMS Superb
HMS Vanguard
2nd Submarine Squadron
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Vice Admiral Peter John Wilkinson CB CVO (born 28 May 1956) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) from 2007 to 2010. Since 2012, he has been National President of the Royal British Legion.

Early life

Wilkinson was born on 28 May 1956. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, and the University of Wales, Lampeter (B.A. 1978).

Military career

Wilkinson joined the Royal Navy in 1975, where he initially served in submarines. He commanded the submarines HMS Otter, Superb, and Vanguard, being promoted to Captain in 1995. He was Captain of 2nd Submarine Squadron from 1999 to 2001.[1]

He was the Director of Naval Service and Conditions (as a commodore) from 2001, and then Naval Secretary and Director-General Human Resources (Navy) from 2004.[1] From 2005 to 2007 he was Defence Services Secretary and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Reserves).[1] He was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel) in August 2007.[2] Wilkinson was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2010 Birthday Honours[3] and retired in August 2010.[2]

Later life

In retirement Wilkinson became chairman of Seafarers UK, a charity supporting seafarers in need and their dependants across the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, and clerk of the Worshipful Company of Cooks.[4] He is a trustee of the Armed Forces Memorial appeal, which has built a new memorial to service personnel who have lost their lives on duty. The memorial is located at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.[5] After the resignation of Lieutenant-General Sir John Kiszely, he was appointed National President of the Royal British Legion in October 2012. He is also a Patron of Soldier On!.[6] Peter Wilkinson was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales Trinity St David, Lampeter, in 2013.

References

  1. 1 2 3 ‘WILKINSON, Vice Adm. Peter John’, Who's Who 2008, A & C Black, 2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 26 Sept 2008
  2. 1 2 Ministry of Defence & Tri-service senior appointments
  3. "No. 59446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2010. p. 2.
  4. Vice Adm Peter Wilkinson, CB, CVO Debretts
  5. Forces memorial
  6. Royal British Legion: About us
Military offices
Preceded by
Mark Kerr
Naval Secretary
20042005
Succeeded by
Sir Richard Ibbotson
Preceded by
David Pocock
Defence Services Secretary
20052007
Succeeded by
Matthew Sykes
Preceded by
David Pocock
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel)
20072010
Succeeded by
Sir William Rollo
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
John Kiszely
President of the Royal British Legion
2012
Incumbent
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