A Briton from Malta to head Eunavfor soon

(BRUSSELS2, Exclusive) The European anti-piracy mission Eunavfor Atalanta will soon have a new head, a Briton. Which is logical since the United Kingdom has taken on the role of "framework nation" for this operation. According to our information, it is the current commander of the British maritime force (COMUKMARFOR), Rear Admiral Duncan L Potts, who is also the head of the 16th NATO Reaction Force until July 1, which is anticipated.

Born in Malta in 1961 and educated at Wellington School, he joined the Navy in 1979. He served first (1983) on the HMS Bildeston and Brilliant, as a navigation officer, then (1988) on the HMS Ambush as "Principal Warfare Officer", and on the Norfolk. He thus participated in an exchange with the American Navy in Norfolk (Virginia). After a stint at the General Staff of the COMUKTG (Commander United Kingdom Task Group) and the command of the anti-submarine strike force, he took command of the HMS Brilliant (in 1996) then from HMS Southampton, with which it will be deployed in the Gulf. Promoted to Captain in 2000, he commanded the HMS Marlborough and the 4th Frigate Squadron, which will be deployed to the Middle East.

He then spent four years in the Ministry of Defence, first in Navy planning, responsible for defining the size and organization of the Royal Navy, and later as Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff. Promoted to Commodore in 2007, he was appointed head of the Navy Task Group (COMUKTG) during which he was deployed to Iraq with CTF158, which was in charge of Operation Enduring Freedom, to secure the Iraqi oil fields in the Persian Gulf. In January 2009, he was appointed head of planning at the joint HQ (PJHQ) in Northwood, which notably oversees overseas operations. In January 2011, he was promoted to Rear-Admiral and immediately named COMUKMARFOR.