Capt John Fitzpatrick

Captain JOHN A J FITZPATRICK Royal Navy

Deputy Chief of Staff UK Strategic Command 

John FitzPatrick joined the Royal Navy in 1992. After Fleet training deployed on NATO operations in the Adriatic Sea, he read a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Maritime Defence Management, graduating with honours in 1996.

He is an Executive Aviator with broad experience in Operations, Capability and Acquisition, Defence Engagement and Management of Defence. His junior career saw a mix of aviation and surface fleet assignments. In aviation, he was a helicopter Observer in the Lynx Mk 3 and Mk8 deploying on Op ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR, Op TELIC 1 and Atlantic Patrol Task (North). As a Warfare Officer he has served in Mine Warfare and Offshore Patrol Vessels, Frigates and Destroyers and has operational experience in the Adriatic Sea, the Falkland Islands, with NATO, Partnership for Peace, in the Middle East on Op KIPION and in the North Atlantic for Counter Narcotics and Humanitarian Disaster Relief. 

As a Lieutenant Commander he was the Above Water Warfare Officer and Operations Officer in HMS LANCASTER before returning to aviation as Senior Observer/Second in Command at 815 Naval Air Squadron. His last seagoing appointment was as Second in Command/Executive Officer in HMS DRAGON; taking her from build, through trials and culminating in US Carrier Strike Group operations in the Middle East.

Appointments as a Commander included: Navy Command HQ as the QEC Capability Manager within the Carrier Strike and Aviation division; the US Naval War College, Rhode Island; the MoD on the Naval Staff and as the Carrier Strike and Aviation Staff Officer. During this tenure he took on the additional role as Defence Engagement lead for FVEYs, Russia and Ukraine. In Aug 2020, he transferred to FINMILCAP Navy Plans for the culmination of the Integrated Review before promotion to Captain and joining UK Strategic Command HQ as the Deputy Chief of Staff. 

John FitzPatrick lives in Holybourne, Hampshire with his wife, their two children and two dogs. His hobbies include hiking, running, cycling and family weekends away in the campervan or yachting off the South Coast.