Ben Key

Sir Benjamin John Key, (born 7 November 1965) is a former Royal Navy officer, who served as First Sea Lord from November 2021 to May 2025. On 2 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced that Key's service and commission had been terminated following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which found him to have "fallen far short of the values and standards expected of service personnel". He studied physics at Royal Holloway, University of London,

Naval career Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984. After serving as an observer in the Fleet Air Arm, he saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in the frigate during the Kosovo War in 1999. he was appointed a staff officer at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007.

Key was appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2011, and Flag Officer Sea Training in April 2013. He was appointed Fleet Commander and promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 10 February 2016. He became Chief of Joint Operations in April 2019.

Key received the United States Bronze Star Medal in 2006 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2021 New Year Honours. He was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by Royal Holloway, University of London on 20 December 2018.

Key led Operation Pitting, the UK's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive, in August 2021 and, on 15 October, it was announced that Key was to be the next First Sea Lord. He assumed the post from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on 8 November 2021.

On 2 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced that, following the investigation, Key's Royal Navy service and commission had been terminated. The BBC reported that Key had violated the military's code of conduct by having an affair with a more junior female officer.

Personal life