Jane's Fighting Ships

During a 32-year career in the Royal Navy, Stephen Saunders travelled extensively and worked with many different navies. A surface-ship officer and anti-submarine warfare specialist, he served in most classes of warship from Mine Countermeasures vessels to Aircraft Carriers. He commanded the frigate HMS SIRIUS and, as Captain 1st Frigate Squadron, HMS COVENTRY; in this role he also commanded the Royal Navy's Armilla Patrol when deployed to the Gulf. His broad staff experience comprised attachment to the NATO staff of Commander US 6th Fleet and several tours in the Ministry of Defence, London. Appointments in Naval Operational Requirements and Defence Concepts led to his final job as Director Force Development within the Defence Policy Division. Staff training included the National Defence College, Latimer in 1982 and the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1994. Since leaving the Royal Navy in 1998, he has worked in the shipbuilding and in defence consultancy.