Our congratulations to Commodore Jude Terry, who has been selected for promotion to Rear Admiral – making her the most senior woman in the Royal Navy, past or present. Of making history she says simply “someone has to be first” – but this is no small achievement.

First Sea Lord and ARNO member Admiral Tony Radakin said:

“I am delighted with Commodore Jude Terry’s selection for promotion to Rear Admiral. Jude is part of a cohort of trailblazers in the Royal Navy who have seized the opportunities on offer, and risen to the top. This builds on a rich career of naval and broader Defence appointments, all of which she has excelled at.”

The 47-year-old from Jersey will be promoted to Rear Admiral next year and take over as the Royal Navy’s Director of People and Training and Naval Secretary.

“I have always thought of myself as a naval officer first, then a logistics officer, then Jude and finally as a female. The Navy genuinely doesn’t look at your gender and is an equal opportunities employer – it wants you to be part of a team and deliver outputs to support operations.”

She will be responsible for sailors and Royal Marines from the moment they are recruited to their final day in Service – spanning their entire careers by overseeing training, welfare and career management.

Cdre Terry joined the Navy in 1997 and has spent the bulk of her seagoing career in Plymouth-based warships, including survey vessel HMS Scott and two spells with helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.

She currently serves as deputy director of the department she is earmarked to take over, with the goal of helping to shape the Royal Navy and its people up to 2040.