Andrew Betton joined the Royal Navy in 1987, studying Geology at Oxford University as a cadet. He served on a destroyer during the first Gulf War and in a Patrol Boat off Northern Ireland before joining the Fleet Air Arm as a Lynx helicopter Observer, flying from a range of frigates and destroyers deployed around the world. Early command appointments included command of HMS Westminster, deploying to West Africa and the North Atlantic, Commander Sea Training in the Fleet Operational Standards and Training organisation and Commander of the Iraqi Maritime Task Group, with tactical command of UK, US and Iraqi vessels. He also commanded the Helicopter Carrier HMS Ocean, conducting strike operations off Libya during 2011 and supporting the London 2012 Olympic Games. Most recently he served as Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group from Sep 16, deploying with HMS Queen Elizabeth for her maiden deployment to conduct embarked F35B Flying Trials. Ashore he has fulfilled numerous roles within the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) including within PJHQ; Assistant Chief of Staff Plans (ACOS J5) and in the MoD; procurement lead for the Queen Elizabeth class Aircraft Carriers and Assistant Head of Defence Operational Capability. Following a short tour as the UK Naval Attaché in Washington DC he was promoted to become the inaugural Deputy Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk from September 2019. He assumed the role of DJW in Strategic Command in November 2021.