George Zambellas

Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, (born 4 April 1958

In his early career Zambellas served as a helicopter pilot with 814 Naval Air Squadron, 829 Naval Air Squadron and then 815 Naval Air Squadron.

Early life and education Born at Swansea, Wales, the son of a Greek father, Michael George Zambellas and Rosemary Frederique Lindsay, Zambellas was educated at Shabani Primary School and Peterhouse School in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), then at Stowe School.

Career

Zambellas was commissioned as an acting sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy on 17 September 1980. He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 May 1982 and served with 814 Naval Air Squadron, 829 Naval Air Squadron and 815 Naval Air Squadron in his early career. In 1995 he was given command of the frigate and was deployed on counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. In 2001 he took the Higher Command and Staff Course at Shrivenham before becoming Deputy Flag Officer Sea Training, responsible for training Royal Navy and foreign warships and auxiliaries. and appointed Chief of Staff (Transformation), In 2007, he became Commander of United Kingdom Maritime Force, Zambellas was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Chief of Staff to Navy Command Headquarters, and Chief Naval Warfare Officer. He became Commander-in-Chief Fleet in January 2012 and was promoted admiral on 6 January 2012. He was also double-hatted as Commander, Allied Maritime Command in January 2012. In April 2012 his role was re-designated Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Service.

Zambellas was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2012 Birthday Honours and became First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff on 9 April 2013. As of 2015, Zambellas was paid a salary of between £180,000 and £184,999 by the department, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time.

On 15 April 2014, in an op-ed article for the Daily Telegraph Zambellas laid out the case for a "No" vote at the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, stating that it would weaken British maritime defence. Despite this, on 12 November 2014 he was publicly chastised by the UK Defence Secretary for suggesting to a journalist that the contract for Type 26 frigates may not be awarded to Scottish shipyards.

On 4 July 2014, Zambellas was among those attending the launch ceremony of the 70,600-tonne Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest warship ever built in the United Kingdom, and formally named by Queen Elizabeth II.

Appointed President of the Shipwrecked Mariners Society in 2017, Zambellas serves as Renter Warden of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights (for 2024/25).

Honours and awards

Zambellas was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 2016 New Year Honours being invested at Windsor Castle with Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford on 13 April 2016.

An Elder Brother of Trinity House since 2016,

Personal life In 1982 Zambellas married Amanda Jane LeCudennec; they have three sons.