David Steel

Vice Admiral Sir David George Steel, (born 6 April 1961) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord between 2012 and 2015. He assumed the office of Governor of Gibraltar on 11 June 2020. Early life Steel was born on 6 April 1961. He was educated at Rossall School in Lancashire and attended Durham University where he read law, graduating in 1983. He was called to the bar in 1988. Military career Steel joined the Royal Navy in 1979. His early career was spent in a variety of sea and shore appointments, including as the Fleet Legal Adviser. In December 1999, while serving in the aircraft carrier , he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in support of operations in Kosovo and Macedonia earlier that year. In November 2005 he assumed command of HM Naval Base Portsmouth and in that capacity was honoured for his "inspirational leadership" during the Government's savings review of Naval Bases in 2007. He was also appointed Chief Naval Logistics Officer and Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen. In November 2008 Steel was appointed Director of Service Personnel Policy (Pay and Allowances) at the Ministry of Defence and, in April 2010, he was promoted to rear admiral and appointed Naval Secretary. He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Second Sea Lord in October 2012.