Jock Slater


Sir Jock Slater

Born (1938-03-27) 27 March 1938
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchRoyal Navy
Years of service1958–1998
RankAdmiral
CommandsFirst Sea Lord
Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
Commander-in-Chief Fleet
Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
HMS Dryad
HMS Illustrious
HMS Kent
HMS Jupiter
HMS Soberton
Battles / warsFalklands War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
Legion of Merit (United States)

Admiral Sir John Cunningham Kirkwood Slater, GCB, LVO, DL (born 27 March 1938), known as Jock Slater, is a retired Royal Navy officer. He commanded a minesweeper, a frigate and then a destroyer before taking over the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and then achieving higher command in the Navy. He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1995 to 1998: in that capacity he played a key role in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review carried out by the Labour Government that had come to power a year earlier.