Jerry Ovens

Commander Jeremy John Ovens (born 1959) is a former Royal Navy officer and executive officer.

Early life and education Ovens was born in 1959 in England, the youngest of three children of Patrick John Ovens, a distinguished Royal Marines major-general, and Margaret Mary White.

Ovens studied at the University of Bristol, where he gained a degree in aeronautical engineering.

Career Ovens joined the Royal Navy in 1978. He served in the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Baltic in several of Her Majesty's Ships, including HMS Euryalus, HMS London, HMS Wolverton, and HMS Yarmouth. On 1 January 1983, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and began training as an observer in anti-submarine warfare at the Royal Navy airbase RNAS Culdrose. In 1985, he joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron 814 Naval Air Squadron, before serving as an instructor on 706 Naval Air Squadron, after which he then enrolled in the principal warfare officer course and was subsequently appointed to the destroyer HMS Cardiff.

In 1999, Ovens was promoted to the rank of commander and was appointed as a member of the Joint Services Command and Staff College's Directing Staff. He was then appointed as an instructor at the Tactical Training Group Atlantic, Virginia, where he was tasked with teaching United States Navy officers of all ranks how to operate with allied navies. The September 11 attacks happened four weeks into this role, increasing the urgency of such an excerise in preparation for the coming War on terror. he oversaw the olympic flame's arrival in preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics: "We expect people to come out and celebrate in their own communities," he said, "Everyone is really excited about it." In 2016, he resigned as chairman of the Royal Navy Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association.

Ovens oversaw the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Degrees. He told the Fleet Air Arm Officers Association in 2017:

Personal life Ovens is married to Sandra Mann. Together, they have two children.