Alan Massey

This article is about the Royal Navy admiral. For the Scottish writer, see Allan Massie.

Sir Alan Massey
Vice Admiral Massey in 2013
Born	(1953-03-09) 9 March 1953
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Vice admiral
Commands	HMS Newcastle HMS Campbeltown HMS Illustrious HMS Ark Royal Naval Home Command
Battles / wars	Afghanistan War Iraq War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Vice Admiral Sir Alan Michael Massey, KCB, CBE (born 9 March 1953) is a former senior officer in the Royal Navy who served as the Second Sea Lord.

Early life and education

Massey was educated at the University of Liverpool and Britannia Royal Naval College.

Naval career

Massey trained as a seaman officer, specialising in above water warfare and as a fighter controller and navigator. His first posting was to HMS Bulwark in 1979. Massey's first command was HMS Newcastle in 1993, and he later saw service as captain of HMS Campbeltown, HMS Illustrious during operations against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 2001 and as captain of HMS Ark Royal when his ship led the amphibious assault into Iraq in 2003.

Staff tours included three appointments to the Ministry of Defence in London, serving in the NATO policy directorate, Defence Programmes and as assistant director of Navy Plans. He also served twice in NATO staff appointments: as military assistant to the chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Brussels (1991–1992) and head of plans for the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia (1999–2001). As a commodore, he led the Operations Division of the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood and then went on to be Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in July 2005, with the rank of rear admiral on 5 July 2005. He assumed office as Second Sea Lord in a ceremony aboard HMS Victory in July 2008.

Later life

Having left the Navy, Massey was appointed chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 20 July 2010. During his time at the MCA, Massey was responsible for leading the MCA through a period of change, which included a reorganisation of HM Coastguard and the UK's search and rescue helicopter capability. Massey's other responsibilities at the MCA included leading the UK's efforts to improve safety at sea. Massey stepped down as chief executive on 31 October 2018.

Massey was appointed a non-executive director at Shoreham Port in January 2019.

Honours

On 31 October 2003, Massey was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services whilst on operations in Iraq during the period 19th March to 19th April 2003". He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours.