New head is appointed for the Royal Navy's support service
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Commodore David Eagles takes the helm of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, which keeps warships stocked up with food, fuel and other critical supplies.
Cdre Eagles formally accepted command of the 13-strong flotilla of tankers, supply vessels, amphibious support ships during a ceremony aboard HMS Victory in Portsmouth.
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Hide AdHe takes over from Commodore Duncan Lamb, whose five-year tenure as RFA head of service marked the climax of a career spanning more than 43 years.
Cdre Eagles 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.’
Cdre Eagles, from West Devon, started his seagoing career with BP before joining the RFA, which he has served in for more than 30-years.
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Hide AdMost recently he commanded the navy’s ‘floating warehouse/garage’, RFA Fort Victoria, which provides ships deployed at sea with spare parts, ammunition, food and fuel.
His predecessor has overseen the introduction of four new Tide-class tankers – the largest ships under the RFA banner – which are crucial to supporting the operations of HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales and their carrier battle groups into the mid-21st century.
Cdre Lamb, who joined the RFA in 1977, said his time as head of service had been 'challenging but rewarding’.
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