Ian Forbes

Admiral Sir Ian Andrew Forbes, (born 24 October 1946) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. Naval career Educated at Eastbourne College, Forbes joined the Royal Navy in 1965. Forbes was given command of the patrol craft HMS Kingfisher, the frigate HMS Diomede, the frigate HMS Chatham, and the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1994 for his work in the Ministry of Defence on the Bosnian War. During his time in HMS Invincible, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in 1996 following the ship's contribution to NATO's Operation Deliberate Force, the bombing campaign against the Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After promotion to rear admiral in 1996, Forbes was appointed Military Advisor to Carl Bildt at the Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo charged with reconstructing Bosnia and Herzegovina following the Bosnian War. He also acted as the Chief of Staff in the Office of the High Representative during this period. Appointed as the Commander United Kingdom Task Group, he led the Battle Group's contribution during the Gulf Crisis of 1998, and during the NATO led Kosovo War in the Adriatic Sea in 1999. This appointment carried with it the NATO post of Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force.