# David Snelson

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{{Short description|Royal Navy Rear Admiral (born 1951)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(Royal_Navy))
| name             = David Snelson
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CB}}
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1951|05|27|df=yes}}
| allegiance       = United Kingdom
| branch           = [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy)
| service_years    = 1969–2006
| rank             = [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(Royal_Navy))
| commands         = [Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces](/source/Commander_United_Kingdom_Maritime_Forces)<br/>{{HMS|Ark Royal|R07|6}}<br/>{{HMS|Liverpool|D92|6}}
| battles          = [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War)
| awards           = [Companion of the Order of the Bath](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath)
}}
[Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(Royal_Navy)) '''David George Snelson''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100|CB}} (born 27 May 1951) is a former [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) officer who served as [Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces](/source/Commander_United_Kingdom_Maritime_Forces) from 2002 to 2004.

==Naval career==
Snelson joined the Royal Navy in 1969.<ref>[http://www.pla.co.uk/News/archived_news.cfm/flag/2/id/2658/site/news New chief harbour master to join Port of London Authority] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604234719/http://www.pla.co.uk/News/archived_news.cfm/flag/2/id/2658/site/news |date=4 June 2012 }} Port of London Authority</ref> He first became [Commanding Officer](/source/Commanding_Officer) of the [destroyer](/source/destroyer) {{HMS|Liverpool|D92|6}} in 1987, and again as Captain 3rd Destroyer Squadron in 1997.<ref name=bbc>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1513686.stm Ark Royal goes home after refit] BBC News, 28 August 2001</ref><ref name=debrett>{{Cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/s/26170/David%20George+SNELSON.aspx|title=Debrett's People of Today}}</ref> He then became [Director of Naval Operations and Trade](/source/Directorate_of_Naval_Operations_and_Trade_(Royal_Navy)) under the Naval Staff at the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)) in 1998 and Director of Navy Staff Duties in 1999 before commanding the [aircraft carrier](/source/aircraft_carrier) {{HMS|Ark Royal|R07|6}} in 2001.<ref name=bbc/> He was appointed [Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces](/source/Commander_United_Kingdom_Maritime_Forces) in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315105247/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201900-.pdf|title=Royal Navy Senior Appointments|archivedate=15 March 2012}}</ref> In March 2003, he was the Royal Navy Commander for [Operation Telic](/source/Operation_Telic), during which he led maritime operations for the [Invasion of Iraq](/source/Invasion_of_Iraq) from his headquarters ashore in [Bahrain](/source/Bahrain).<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2837179.stm Al-Qaeda 'biggest threat' to navy] BBC News, 10 March 2003</ref> He went on to be Chief of Staff (Warfare) for the Fleet in 2004 before retiring in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/News_Archive_11.htm|title=News Archive 11|website=mcdoa.org.uk}}</ref>

After leaving the Navy Snelson served as Chief Harbour Master for the [Port of London Authority](/source/Port_of_London_Authority) between 2006 and 2011.<ref name=debrett/> He then served as a Non Executive Director for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Port of Milford Haven between 2011 and 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631530/60470_HC_278_Web_Accessible.pdf|publisher= Maritime & Coastguard Agency|title=Annual Report and Accounts 2016/2017|accessdate=13 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mhpa.co.uk/news/2012/06/29/port-authority-appoints-new-board-members/|title=Port Authority Appoints New Board Members|website=mhpa.co.uk}}</ref> In 2013, Snelson was elected as an Elder Brother of the Corporation of [Trinity House](/source/Trinity_House).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/about-us/governance/the-court|title=The Court|website=Trinity House}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[James Burnell-Nugent](/source/James_Burnell-Nugent)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces](/source/Commander_United_Kingdom_Maritime_Forces)|years=2002–2004}}
{{s-aft|after=[Charles Style](/source/Charles_Style)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Snelson, David}}
Category:1951 births
Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath
Category:Living people
Category:Royal Navy rear admirals
Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Iraq War
Category:Members of Trinity House

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Snelson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Snelson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Snelson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.