HMS Queen Elizabeth: Royal Navy carrier's crew congratulates former Commanding Officer on his new role

Captain Jerry Kyd was the Royal Navy's £3bn aircraft carrier's first CO. 

He handed over the reins of skipper while HMS Queen Elizabeth was in New York City. 

Capt Kyd has now taken up the position of Rear Admiral and is the  Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces. 

HMS Queen Elizabeth tweeted: '˜Brilliant to see our old Commanding Officer with some new shoulder ware.

'˜Congratulations Rear Admiral Jerry Kyd RN, and all the best in your new appointment as Commander UK Maritime Forces.

'˜No better man for the highest seagoing command in the Royal Navy.' 

Who is Jerry Kyd?

Rear Admiral Kyd was appointed the first captain of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2014. 

It was a position he held until last month, when in New York City he handed over the reins to his successor Captain Nick Cooke-Priest. 

He joined the Navy in 1990 and was given command of the frigate HMS Monmouth in 2004 '“ he was promoted to captain in 2009. 

Rear Admiral Kyd became commanding officer of HMS Ark Royal in September 2010, then commanding officer of HMS Illustrious in 2011 and was made commanding officer of the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in September 2012.

He was appointed CO of HMS Queen Elizabeth in February 2014. 

Who is his successor as HMS Queen Elizabeth CO? 

Captain Nick Cooke-Priest took over the command of HMS Queen Elizabeth. 

He became the aircraft carrier's second ever CO, succeeding Captain Jerry Kyd. 

Captain Cooke-Priest led HMS Queen Elizabeth and her crew through the second half of flight trials and will sail her back to Portsmouth before the end of the year. 

He joined the Royal Navy in 1990 he specialised as a Lynx helicopter observer after initial officer training at Dartmouth. 

He was promoted to Commander in 2009 and took command of Frigates Kent and Iron Duke '“ with the latter deployed to Libya as part of Operation Ellamy. 

What does Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces do? 

In his new role, Real Admiral Kyd now holds the highest seagoing command in the Royal Navy, so he is responsible for the surface fleet and is part of the Fleet Battle Staff.

He reports to the Fleet Commander and is based at Navy Command Headquarters at Whale Island.