Chancellor 

Admiral the Lord West of Spithead

Chancellor of Southampton Solent University

 

Admiral the Lord West of Spithead, Home Office Minister in charge of security, and formerly First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, is Southampton Solent University's first Chancellor.  

The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University. In his role, Lord West presides over the University's formal functions, the most important of these being the annual graduation ceremonies. The Chancellor also represents the University externally, both nationally and internationally, and can be seen, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Board Governors, as the University's principal ambassador.  

Lord West was until February 2006 First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff. As such, he was head of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, responsible for the fighting effectiveness of the Royal Navy and for delivering its capabilities in the UK. Lord West has held several senior appointments in the Ministry of Defence and played a prominent role in the re-organisation of the MoD, the initiation of the new budgetary system (NMS) within the Services, and the study into women's employment in the Royal Navy, which led to women serving at sea and their full integration into the Service.  

Rewards for Lord West's remarkable public service record include, in 1982, a Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the Falklands War, and being conferred a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath in the 2004 New Year Honours. He became Rear Admiral in 1994 and Vice Admiral in 1997, when he was also appointed Chief of Defence Intelligence. He was promoted to Admiral in November 2000 when he took up his position of Commander-in-Chief (CinC) Fleet, NATO CinC East Atlantic, and NATO Commander Allied Naval Forces North. Lord West was awarded a Life Peerage, and was appointed Home Office Minister in charge of Security by Gordon Brown when he became Prime Minister in July 2007. 

"It is a great honour to have become Chancellor of Southampton Solent University. I admire the vision and values espoused by the University and have been most impressed by what I have learnt of their achievement so far, not least the high percentage of students from the lower socio-economic group and from low participation neighbourhoods across Britain. I strongly approve of the fact that admissions are highly diverse and inclusive.   

"In particular I am pleased that the world famous Warsash Maritime Academy is part of the University," Lord West adds, "Shipping is booming worldwide and the high standards taught at Warsash are crucial for safety and national wealth."