Catherine Jordan

Last updated
Catherine Jordan

LVO
Captain Catherine Jordan.jpg
Catherine Jordan when she was a Captain
BornOctober 1974 (age 49–50)
County Durham, England
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1993–present
Rank Commodore
Commands HMS Severn
HMS Clyde
HMS St Albans
Aviation Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike & Aviation Division
HMS Collingwood
Awards Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
Spouse(s)Captain Andy Jordan, ADC
Children3

Commodore Catherine Jordan, LVO (born October 1974) is a senior Royal Navy officer who currently serves as Head of the Royal Navy Culture Centre. [1]

Contents

In 2002 she became the first female Flight Commander in the Royal Navy and in 2022 she was one of the four captains involved in the first time women had been in command of all four of the Royal Navy's training establishments.

Also in 2022, she led the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. For this she was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in silver and became a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

Early life

Jordan was born in October 1974 and grew up in Easington, County Durham. [2] [3] She received her education at Wellfield Community School in the nearby town of Wingate and Gordonstoun School, an independent school in Moray, Scotland. [2] [4] [5] She became interested in the Royal Navy as a teenager. [2]

Jordan joined HMS Dartmouth, also known as the Britannia Royal Naval College, in September 1993 as a University Cadet Aviator, being sponsored to study for a law degree at the University of Manchester. She completed initial fleet training on the ships HMS Broadsword, Brave and Northumberland and, after passing out from Dartmouth, she began her law degree, graduating in 1997. [4] [6] [7] She was selected for training on the Westland Lynx, qualifying on both the Lynx Mk.3 and Mk.8 as a Flight Observer under the Fleet Air Arm, an individual responsible for the navigation, communications systems and weaponry of a helicopter. [4] [5] [6] [8]

She performed two tours in the Mediterranean as part of NATO counterterrorism operations and was later appointed as the first female flight commander in the Royal Navy and the first flight commander of the newly commissioned Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans in 2002. [4] [5] [6] [7] [9] In the build-up to the Iraq War in 2003, she regenerated and commanded Gibraltar Flight from RAF Gibraltar, performing maritime security operations in the Mediterranean due to the increased terror threat for 3 months before returning to HMS St Albans, where she completed a deployment in the Middle East under Operation Calash. [4] [6] [9]

After initial staff officer training, Jordan attended the Principal Warfare Officer course, which she graduated from in 2005 as top student of the year, being promoted to lieutenant commander. [4] [6] [9] She then completed three short tours, first as the operations officer for gunnery and surface warfare on HMS Iron Duke, with which she took part in deployments to the Arctic Circle and the Caribbean. [4] [6] [9] Next she served with Combined Task Force 158 in Iraq, with her third tour being as Operations Officer on HMS Albion . [5] [6] [9]

In 2007 Jordan joined the Fleet Battle Staff, in which she spent the next six months as the staff operations officer to the commander of the task force in the Persian Gulf, the task force responsible for the protection of Iraqi oil platforms. [4]

Sea commands and Fleet Air Arm

After her selection for Sea Command, Jordan took command of HMS Severn, a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the Overseas Patrol Squadron, in February 2010. [2] [4] [6] [9] In March 2011, her ship and its crew was awarded the Offshore Patrol Vessel Efficiency Trophy for their work over the preceding year. [5] [9] In July 2011, she took command of HMS Clyde, another River-class. HMS Clyde was sent to the Falkland Islands to relieve the HMS Dumbarton Castle as the Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel, which is where it served for the next six months. [4] [6]

In 2012, Jordan returned to the Fleet Air Arm as part of the implementation team for the Fleet Air Arm Manpower Sustainability Project before being promoted to commander. On 10 December 2013, she took command of HMS St Albans to regenerate the ship following refits that began in April of that year in preparation for operations in the Middle East. [4] [6] [7] [9] [10]

In May 2017, Jordan was appointed as aviation chief of staff, Carrier Strike & Aviation Division. In September 2019, she was appointed as commander of the shore establishment HMS Collingwood and the Maritime Warfare School. [4] [7]

2020-present

At some point between September 2019 and 22 July 2022, Jordan was promoted to captain. At that point in 2022, she and three other captains, Captains Suzi Nielsen, Sarah Oakley, and Johanna Deakin, spoke to the Royal Navy in regards to the fact that it was the first time all four of the Royal Navy's training establishments, HMS Raleigh, HMS Dartmouth, HMS Sultan, and HMS Collingwood had been under the command of women. Jordan said of this "The good thing about us all being in this position now, is that there’s a high probability it will happen again." They also spoke of their pride in being able to inspire recruits and trainees at the beginning of their careers. [11] [12]

During the preparations for and the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Jordan was responsible for the state ceremonial team and led the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage alongside Commander Steve Elliott, who served as her deputy during the procession; [7] [13] [14] [15] for Elliott, it was his final duty in uniform after 32 years of service. [14] [15] Jordan was the most senior Royal Naval officer to take part in the procession. [1]

Jordan can be seen to the left of this image, leading the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage alongside Commander Steve Elliott Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral and Procession (19.Sep.2022) - 15.jpg
Jordan can be seen to the left of this image, leading the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage alongside Commander Steve Elliott

On 11 October 2022, Jordan handed command of HMS Collingwood and the Maritime Warfare School to Captain Tim Davey. [16]

On 9 January 2023, Jordan was promoted to commodore. [17] For her role in the state funeral, she was honoured as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order on the 25 March 2023 Honours List on The Demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. [18] On May 30, 2023, 142 men and women of all ranks and branches, including Jordan, were presented the Royal Victorian Medal in silver personally by King Charles III. [1]

Personal life

On 25 December 2012, Jordan gave birth to her first child, a daughter. [6] [9] Since that time, she has given birth to a further two children. [4]

She has been a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Freeman of the City of London, the fundraising committee for the National Museum of the Royal Navy and has been a trustee of the Women's Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust since 2016 and vice chair since 2018. [4] [7] [19] [20]

Catherine has been married to Captain Andy Jordan, ADC, a now retired Royal Naval officer, since before 2016. [4] [6] [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Navy</span> Naval warfare force of the United Kingdom

The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and a component of His Majesty's Naval Service. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the English Navy of the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm</span> Aviation arm of the Royal Navy

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms. As of 2023 it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the F-35 Lightning II carrier-based stealth fighter jointly with the Royal Air Force.

HMS <i>Ocean</i> (L12) 1998 unique amphibious assault ship of the Royal Navy

HMS Ocean was a Landing Platform Helicopter, formerly the UK's helicopter carrier and the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy. She was designed to support amphibious landing operations and to support the staff of Commander UK Amphibious Force and Commander UK Landing Force. She was constructed in the mid-1990s by Kvaerner Govan on the River Clyde and fitted out by VSEL at Barrow-in-Furness prior to trials and subsequent acceptance in service. Ocean was commissioned in September 1998 at her home port HMNB Devonport, Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Naval Reserve</span> Volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy

The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve, created in 1859, and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), created in 1903. The Royal Naval Reserve has seen action in World War I, World War II, the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

HMS <i>St Albans</i> (F83) 2002 Type 23 or Duke-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS St Albans is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. She is the sixth ship to bear the name and is the sixteenth and final ship in the Duke class of frigates. She is based in Devonport, Plymouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood</span> Royal Navy admiral (1748–1810)

Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood was an admiral of the Royal Navy, notable as a partner with Lord Nelson in several of the British victories of the Napoleonic Wars, and frequently as Nelson's successor in commands.

HMS <i>Excellent</i> (shore establishment) Shore establishment

HMS Excellent is a Royal Navy "stone frigate" sited on Whale Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire. HMS Excellent is itself part of the Maritime Warfare School, with a headquarters at HMS Collingwood, although a number of lodger units are resident within the site including the offices of the First Sea Lord.

A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots (naval aviators), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or "mission specialist" functions, depending on the type of aircraft. Until 1966, their duties were performed by both commissioned officer and senior enlisted naval aviation observers (NAO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">His Majesty's Naval Service</span> Maritime service of the British Armed Forces

His Majesty's Naval Service is the United Kingdom's naval warfare and maritime service. It consists of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve and Naval Careers Service. The Naval Service as a whole falls under the command of the Navy Board, which is headed by the First Sea Lord. This position is currently held by Admiral Sir Ben Key. The Defence Council delegates administration of the Naval Service to the Admiralty Board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudley Pound</span> Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet (1877–1943)

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound, was a British senior officer of the Royal Navy. He served in the First World War as a battleship commander, taking part in the Battle of Jutland with notable success, contributing to the sinking of the German cruiser Wiesbaden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Oswald</span>

Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Julian Robertson Oswald was a senior Royal Navy officer. After training as a gunnery specialist, Oswald commanded a frigate and then a destroyer before achieving higher command in the navy. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in the early 1990s. In that capacity he advised the British Government on the reduction in the size of the fleet under the Options for Change restructuring programme and on the deployment of Naval Support for the Gulf War in 1991: he also made the decision that members of the Women's Royal Naval Service should be allowed to serve in Royal Navy ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Navy</span> Naval component of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is the naval arm of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is classed as the country's most vital defence force due to its island geography. It is responsible for the maritime defence of the Sri Lankan nation and its interests. The role of the Sri Lanka Navy is to conduct operations at sea for the defence of the nation and its interests and conduct prompt and sustainable combat operations at sea in accordance with the national policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Pollock (Royal Navy officer)</span>

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Patrick Pollock, was a senior officer in the Royal Navy who rose to become First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in the early 1970s. In the Second World War, he was an officer on ships tasked with protecting convoys in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and was gunnery officer on the cruiser HMS Norfolk when she fought the German battleship Scharnhorst during the Battle of North Cape. He later commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and hosted Ian Smith on HMS Tiger. In retirement, he held the position of King of Arms of the Order of the Bath and Gloucester King of Arms, with responsibility for heraldry in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Rotheram</span> British Royal Navy officer

Captain Edward Rotheram CB was a senior officer of the British Royal Navy, who served for many years during the American War of Independence, French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars. During his service, Rotheram saw action at several major naval engagements, including as a lieutenant at the Glorious First of June in 1794 and as captain of HMS Royal Sovereign at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Although he was highly praised for his actions at both battles, he was not well regarded in the service, being once described by his admiral at Trafalgar, Cuthbert Collingwood, as "a man of no talent as a sea officer" and "a stupid man".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Zambellas</span> British admiral (born 1958)

Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, is a British retired Royal Navy officer. He was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from April 2013 until he handed over duties to Admiral Sir Philip Jones in April 2016.

Rear Admiral Philip Lawrence Wilcocks, was a British senior Royal Navy officer who served as Rear Admiral Surface Ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy Command (Royal Navy)</span> Headquarters of the Royal Navy

The Navy Command is the current headquarters body of the Royal Navy, and as of 2012 its major organisational grouping. It is a hybrid, neither a command, nor simply an installation. Royal Navy official writings describe Navy Command Headquarters both as a physical site, on Whale Island, Hampshire, a collective formed of the most senior RN officers, and as a budgetary grouping.

A principal warfare officer (PWO), is one of a number of warfare branch specialist officers.

In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.

Commodore Michael Cecil Clapp, is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who commanded the United Kingdom's amphibious assault group, Task Group 317.0, in the Falklands War.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Royal Navy sailors receive honours for services at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral". Royal Navy. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Catherine comes home in a warship". The Northern Echo. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  3. ↑ "CATHERINE ELIZABETH JORDAN - HAMPSHIRE - SERVING OFFICER, ROYAL NAVY". www.checkcompany.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Captain Catherine Jordan Royal Navy" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Warship officer's proudest moment". The Northern Echo. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Commander Catherine Jordan Royal Navy" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cdre Catherine Jordan LVO RN | The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity". www.rnrmc.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  8. ↑ "AIRCREW OFFICER OBSERVER". Royal Navy. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "CO HMS St Albans hosts schoolgirl visit". www.fleetairarmoa.org. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  10. ↑ "HMS St Albans". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "Royal Navy captains talk of pride at commanding training establishments". Royal Navy. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  12. ↑ Knuckey, James (2022-06-29). "History made as women command all four of Royal Navy's major training bases". Forces Network. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Ben; Cottrell, Hannah (2022-09-15). "'The Queen's funeral will be my last act after 32 years in the Royal Navy'". My London. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  14. 1 2 Saxena, sangeeta (2022-09-21). "Royal Navy's key role at Queen's funeral | ADU Media". ADU - Aviation Defence Universe. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  15. 1 2 "Navy staff 'honoured and privileged' to take part in Queen's funeral procession". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  16. ↑ Young, Robin (11 October 2022). "Captain takes up new role as Collingwood Commanding Officer". The Gosport and Fareham Globe. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Page 7818 | Supplement 64028, 18 April 2023 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  18. ↑ "Page D1 | Supplement 64008, 25 March 2023 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  19. ↑ "History". WRNS Benevolent Trust. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  20. ↑ Fleming, Emma (2018-06-13). "All change at the top for the Women's Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust". Cobseo. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  21. ↑ "The 2016 Collingwood Lecture | The Collingwood Society". 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.