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Daniel Thomas

Daniel Thomas

Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at the Standing Joint Force Headquarters, Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ)

Dan Thomas joined the Royal Navy in 1995. Initially a Commando Sea King pilot with 845 Naval Air Squadron, he saw frontline service in Bosnia and Croatia as well as Arctic training in Norway and amphibious and desert training in Egypt. He was the Flight Commander of HMS EDINBURGH between 2001 – 2003, flying the Mk3 Lynx, deploying around the world and culminating in Op TELIC 1.


Completing the final streamed course, he became Principal Warfare Officer (Above Water) and Ops Officer in HMS SUTHERLAND. He joined COMUKAMPHIBFOR (the 2* Amphibious Battle Staff) conducting numerous global exercises, returning to Iraq for Op TELIC 12 / 13, as Staff for MND(SE), responsible for Iraqi Security Force Development. He returned to sea as XO HMS PORTLAND, deployed to the South Atlantic and South America, and then CO of both HMS TYNE and HMS CLYDE as the Falkland Island Patrol Vessel.


A short 6 months on the Littoral Manoeuvre Capability Delivery Team followed before promotion to Commander and an extremely enjoyable period as CO HMS KENT, the first of the PORFLOT AF T23 Frigates. He was Staff Operations Officer / ACOS Ops at COMUKMARFOR (2 * Maritime Battle Staff) for 6 months before completing ACSC 21, gaining an MA in Defence Studies. He was appointed to HMS PRINCE OF WALES as the first Commander for a fascinating 2 years seeing the ship built, complete sea trials, conduct a Royal Commissioning and then fleet tasking.


A short period at PJHQ as COS Joint Effects followed before Dan took up his appointment as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Littoral Strike Group / Deputy Commander Maritime Forces for HQ Commando Forces. He is now the Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at the Standing Joint Force Headquarters.