New Head Of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Assumes Duties

The new head of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) has assumed formal command of the service. 

Commodore David Eagles takes over from Commodore Duncan Lamb who is retiring after spending more than 43 years in the RFA, including the final five years as RFA Head of Service and Deputy Director of RN Afloat Support.

Cdre Eagles, from west Devon, has served for more than 30 years in the RFA, most recently commanding RFA Fort Victoria.

Formal command was handed over to him during a socially distanced ceremony on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth on Friday where he was presented with a ceremonial telescope.

He said: "It is a great honour and privilege to assume the duty as Head of Service and I look forward to working with our superb team of seafarers and civil servants to deliver our operational outputs and promote the RFA Service across defence and Government.

"May I also recognise the hard work and leadership of my predecessor Duncan Lamb in leading the RFA through the past five years and, latterly, the unforeseen ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary provides the fuel, supplies, ammunition and cargo space to support the Royal Navy when on deployment anywhere in the world.

It is staffed by merchant sailors and is the civilian branch of the naval service.

RFA ships are currently supporting Navy frontline operations and exercises around the UK, the Mediterranean and Gulf, as well as leading a UK task group in the Caribbean.

The RFA is made up of 13 vessels, including tankers, supply vessels, amphibious support ships and the UK's only aviation training/casualty treatment ship.

Cover image: Commodore David Eagles (left) takes over as new head of the RFA from Commodore Duncan Lamb (right) (Picture: Royal Navy).