King's Birthday Honours List 2026: All Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines recognised for service - full list

Dedicated Royal Navy and Royal marines personnel have been recognised for their service by the King in his Birthday Honours list.

Dozens of personnel, reservists, and civil servants, have been named in the King’s Birthday and Operational Honours lists. Their efforts have been commemorated, whether it be on deployment overseas to implementing new technologies for a future Royal Navy.

The list includes sailors at the heart of the UK Carrier Strike Group’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific last year, headed up by HMS Prince of Wales. Others include submariners who crew Vanguard-class submarines, continually deployed conducting the UK’s nuclear deterrent on Operation Relentless.

Sailors committed to improving the environment through their work have also been recognised alongside those who have supported overseas territories with humanitarian work in the wake of Nature’s wrath. Captain Philip Burgess was made an OBE for his work in supporting the construction of the Fleet’s first Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow. As the senior naval officer of the ship, the first of class, his citation said he “played a key role in improving UK shipbuilding performance at the waterfront and with international partners”.

It added: “He led delivery of the first Type 26 and built a unified ethos across the support organisation, strengthening links with MOD teams and industry. He encouraged his team to embrace opportunities offered by this new class, fostering a positive, inquisitive culture.”

Commanding Officer for the Portsmouth-based destroyer, HMS Dauntless , was made an OBE in the Operational Honours List. Commander Benjamin Dorrington’s citation read: “He displayed exceptional leadership during Operation Highmast, transforming HMS Dauntless into a mission-ready air defence unit capable of protecting the Royal Navy flagship in high-threat environments. Despite compressed timelines, he balanced ship regeneration and crew training, ensuring Dauntless was fully prepared for deployment. As Air and Missile Defence Commander, he led rigorous training to counter advanced threats, uniting UK, and international forces into an effective unit.”

Captain Keith Stephenson was made an OBE for his work in the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technology Office – the navy’s experts in getting innovative equipment to the frontline. The citation said he “played a pivotal role in advancing autonomous systems across organisational, national and international levels, demonstrating ambition, energy and determination”. It added: “His operationally-significant projects now have international impact, driven directly by his leadership and personal effort.”

Capt Stephenson said: “Having spent much of the past ten years working to deliver emergent technology projects for wider Defence, the Royal Navy and latterly to Ukraine I, feel incredibly honoured to receive this award, particularly when I am continually humbled by the dedication, drive and resourcefulness of the people that I am privileged to work with from across the MOD, industry and academia.”

Elsewhere, Lieutenant (Sea Cadet Corps) Joshua McDermott, currently Commanding Officer of Ellesmere Port Sea Cadet Corps Unit, has been made an MBE. In a decade of volunteering, he has provided a committed service to his local community. He has transformed two struggling units and has directly helped more than 175 young people.

He said: “I am deeply honoured and genuinely humbled to have been awarded an MBE. Volunteering with the Sea Cadets has always been about giving young people opportunities, confidence and experiences that help them realise their potential, so to receive recognition in this way is both unexpected and incredibly special. My family are absolutely delighted. They have supported me throughout many years of volunteering, often putting up with evenings, weekends and holidays being dedicated to cadet activities, so this honour is very much something we will celebrate together. Looking back, I am particularly proud of the work undertaken to turn around two Sea Cadet units and help create environments where young people can thrive. Seeing cadets develop, gain qualifications, build confidence and go on to achieve things they never thought possible has always been the greatest reward.”

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Royal Naval Reservist Lieutenant Adam Lappin has been made an MBE for this work as a Media Operations Specialist, but also in outreach projects within the navy and his community. He said standout moments of his career included taking part in Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003, commissioning as into the Logistics Branch as a Logistics Officer in 2009 and playing ice hockey for the Royal Navy, winning two Inter Service titles as a player.

“It was a real shock to get the phone call, and it has not really sunk in,” he added. “After 25 years in the Royal Navy, it is nice to see that the commitment to not only the Naval role is recognised, but also time spent fostering relationships with the Sea Cadet Corps – I’m a former Sea Cadet in Bury and Radcliffe Unit myself – and helping to develop future generations, valued members of society and prospective new service personnel in and around the north west of England.”

He said: “My family will see this as a fantastic achievement. My wife, who is also a serving Royal Naval Reservist and a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer in Preston Sea Cadets, sees the work that goes into this and I could not do what I do without her support and assistance… I see this as very much a team effort and recognition for both our efforts.”

King’s Birthday Honours List

Knight Commander in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Vice Admiral Andrew Kyte

Companion in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)

Rear Admiral Robert Lauchlan

Major General Paul Lynch

Rear Admiral Christopher Shepherd

Commander in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Commodore David Filtness (Operational)

Rear Admiral Daniel D’Silva

Captain Adrian Coghill

Officer in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Commander Benjamin Dorrington (Operational)

Commander James Mitchell (Operational)

Captain Philip Burgess

Commander James McBratney

Commander Benjamin Smith

Captain Keith Stephenson

Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Lieutenant Commander Aaron Coates

Lieutenant Commander Phoebe Hall

Major Rupert Johnstone-Burt

Lieutenant Adam Lappin RNR

Warrant Officer 1 Logistics (Police) Dean Latham (Retired)

Lieutenant (Sea Cadet Corps) Joshua McDermott

Warrant Officer 2 Warfare (Electronic Warfare) William Penric

Commander Adam Prevett

Warrant Officer 1 Logistics (Supply Chain) Lee Reeves

Lieutenant Commander Michael Rydiard

Ordinary Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC)

Chief Petty Officer Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Laura Fallon

Associate Member of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Lieutenant Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Megan Muirhead

King’s Volunteer Reserve Medal (KVRM)

Warrant Officer Second Class Robert Cooper RMR

King’s Commendation for Valuable Service (KCVS)

Commander Mathew Gee (Operational)

Lieutenant Commander Glyn Duffell (Operational)

Lieutenant Commander Anya Shepherd (Operational)

Lieutenant Jake Robertson (Operational)

Meritorious Service Medal – June 2026

Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) A Brown

Warrant Officer First Class M Chitty

Warrant Officer First Class L Cockerton

Warrant Officer First Class A Dewsnip

Warrant Officer First Class L Hoddy

Warrant Officer Second Class R Kirk

Warrant Officer First Class D Maddocks

Warrant Officer Second Class S May

Warrant Officer Second Class C McClure

Sub Lieutenant F McCutcheon Royal Navy

Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Weapons Engineering Submarines) J Parker

Warrant Officer Second Class G Partridge

Warrant Officer First Class M Robinson

Lieutenant Commander N Simpson Royal Navy

Warrant Officer First Class A Slack

Warrant Officer Second Class S Smith

Warrant Officer First Class T Smith

Warrant Officer First Class M Swift

Warrant Officer First Class D Thornhill

Colour Sergeant C Tucker

Warrant Officer First Class E Williams

Warrant Officer First Class D Wilson

Warrant Officer Second Class S Woodhouse

Operational Honours List

Joint Commander’s Commendation

Commander J Bretell Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander D Ferguson Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander M Ford Royal Navy

Warrant Officer First Class S Mackie

Chief Petty Officer (Mine Warfare) L Roberts

Captain A Spencer Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander O Toozs-Hobson Royal Navy

Joint Commander’s Commendation Team

HMS Prince of Wales Fighter Controllers

Foreign Decorations to Royal Navy Recipients

NATO Meritorious Service Medal

Chief Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) M R Impey

Lieutenant Colonel A J Liva Royal Marines

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) J B Lockhart Royal Marines

Captain S F Simpson Royal Navy

United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer)

Rear Admiral M E J Anderson CBE Royal Navy

Brigadier B E Halsted MBE Royal Marines

United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Legionnaire)

Captain D J S McKnight Royal Navy

United States Air Medal

Lieutenant (Retired) D Telfer Royal Navy

In conjunction with Birthday Honours

First Sea Lord’s Commendation

Major R T Adkins Royal Marines

Warrant Officer Second Class M Ashcroft

Sarah Burke

Commander C Chew Royal Navy

Chief Petty Officer Logistician (Catering Services) T Collins

Lieutenant Commander (Sea Cadet Corps) W Elliott

Lieutenant J Hammond Royal Navy

Colour Sergeant S Lax

Surgeon Lieutenant Commander A Lee Royal Navy

Warrant Officer First Class M Millward

Lieutenant Commander P Proctor Royal Navy

Warrant Officer Second Class E Sheppard

Commander N Winstone Royal Navy

Royal Navy Commendation

Lieutenant Commander A Benzie Royal Navy

Chief Petty Officer (Coxswain)(Submarines) L Davis

Captain J King Royal Marines

Leading Hand (Mine Warfare) L Marshall

Simon Porter

Lieutenant Commander T Sleight Royal Navy

Lieutenant Commander J Smith Royal Navy

Alexander Todd

Lieutenant Commander T Wade-Sellen Royal Navy

Sergeant R Williams Royal Marines

Leading Aircraft Controller J Wilcox

Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Technician (Mechanical) D Roberts

Royal Navy Team Commendations

HMS Vengeance Engineering team:

Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submarines) J Drummond

Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) M Forrest

Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) C Rice

Mar-Works, Navy Digital Integration & Network Expertise Team:

Carbon 60:-

Dave McInerney

Paul Anderson

Darren Brettle

Stefan Bullivant

Geoffrey Howie

Oliver Sinden

Mark Warman

Frazer-Nash:-

James Twycross

Royal Navy:-

Warrant Officer Second Class R Ralphs

Marine T Budge

Standing Joint Commander Commendations

Lieutenant W N D Watson Royal Navy

Commander Joint Aviation Command Commendations

Leading Airman (Aircraft Handler) T W Bundock

Colour Sergeant J Cooper Royal Marines

Warrant Officer Second Class M Jenkins

Leading Air Engineering Technician (Avionics) T Lewis

Lieutenant Commander T Nason Royal Navy

Leading Air Engineering Technician (Mechanical) J Plumer

Lieutenant C Roberts Royal Navy

Lieutenant J Robinson Royal Navy

Member in the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)

J Ambler

A Carr

British Empire Medal (BEM) (Civil Division)

J Peel

T Whitty