Professional Affiliation

Director of Strategy and Policy, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Royal Navy

Expert Bio

Rear Admiral Anthony Rimington took up his appointment as the Royal Navy’s Director of Strategy and Policy and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in November 2022.

Joining the RN in 1991 as a University Cadet Warfare Officer, he served in mine hunters, frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers from the Caribbean to the Far East as a helicopter pilot and warfare officer, culminating in Command of 702 Naval Air Squadron, flying the Lynx from Yeovilton. 

Following ACSC, his staff jobs as a Commander included: Resources and Plans in the Navy Command HQ during the Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2010; and leading the Plans team in UKMCC Bahrain during the onset of air operations over Iraq and Syria in 2014.  Promoted Captain in 2015, he served in the Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, responsible to the Fleet Commander for scheduling all naval ships, squadrons and unit activities; and in the Ministry of Defence as Chief of Staff to the Director Carrier Strike in FMC.  He subsequently commanded RNAS Culdrose, responsible for force generating Merlin helicopter anti-submarine warfare support to the nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers, and leading the whole force of sailors, Civil Servants and contractors who supported them.

Returning to the Ministry of Defence, and following promotion to Commodore in May 2020, he served two Chiefs of Defence Staff as Principal Staff Officer, including managing the transition between them – a period that included the Defence responses to: the COVID pandemic, Integrated Review 2020, CSG21, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the signing of AUKUS, the crisis in Ukraine and cross-channel migration.

A now long-retired RN oarsman, he cycles (slowly) and sails.  Home is in London with his wife (a partner at a City law firm), two school-age daughters and their Welsh springer spaniel.