Keith Blount

Admiral Sir Keith Edward Blount, (born 22 June 1966) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer and pilot, who from 2023 to 2026 served as NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He was Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability and Carriers) and head of the Fleet Air Arm from 2015 to 2019. He served as Commander Allied Maritime Command, NATO, from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and education Blount was born on 22 June 1966 in Plymouth, England. He was educated at Plymstock School, a state secondary school in Plymouth. He completed a Master of Arts degree in Defence Studies from King's College London in 2004.

Naval career

Blount joined the Royal Navy in 1984, and qualified as a helicopter pilot in 1986. and his commands have included , the Iraqi Maritime Task Group, and the United Kingdom's Maritime Component in Bahrain. He was promoted to commodore on 27 August 2013.

Blount was promoted to rear admiral on 29 May 2015, and served as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability and Carriers) and Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm from May 2015 to February 2019. effective 20 May 2019, and was promoted to vice admiral on the same day.

It was announced in November 2022 that Blount would become Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in July 2023. He was promoted to the rank of full admiral on 17 July 2023, as he started in the position. He stepped down in March 2026, and was succeeded by Johnny Stringer as DSACEUR. He retired from the Royal Navy on 20 June 2026, at which point there were no active duty admirals in the Royal Navy.

Personal life In 2007, Blount married Deborah. She was a police officer. Together they have two daughters. While a commodore, Blount was awarded the Legion of Merit in the degree of officer by the President of the United States "in recognition of meritorious, gallant, and distinguished services during coalition operations in the field". Blount was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2018 New Year Honours, and promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2023 New Year Honours.