Angus Essenhigh joined the Royal Navy in 1992 as a University Cadet. Early seagoing assignments in Minesweepers, Frigates and as the Navigating Officer of an American Destroyer followed. He returned to the UK in 2002 and commanded two P2000 patrol boats; the first attached to Oxford University Royal Naval Unit and the second based in Cyprus as part of Operation TELIC. Qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer and latterly as an Air Warfare Officer he again saw service on Operation TELIC this time in HMS KENT before joining HMS DARING in build in early 2008 as AWO and Ops Officer, completing the First of Class sea trials programme. He assumed command of MCM1 Crew 2 in May 2010 and commanded three single-role mine hunters including 7 months in HMS PEMBROKE in the Arabian Gulf as part of Operation KIPION.
In 2012 he returned to HMS DARING as Commanding Officer undertaking a 9-month global circumnavigation, the highlights of which were Ballistic Missile tracking trials in the Pacific Ocean, the centenary celebrations of the Royal Australian Navy and rendering assistance to the people of the Philippines following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, for which he was awarded the OBE.
Promoted to Captain in June 2016 he commanded HMS PROTECTOR, the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship, enjoying two Ice Patrol Seasons working in and around Antarctica. He spent 21 months in command of the aircraft carrier, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, taking the ship through its first operational work up and onto its maiden operational deployment, Operation FORTIS, undertaking operations in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and a lengthy period in the Asia Pacific region.
On promotion to Commodore in January 2022 he returned to the UK Carrier Strike Group, this time as its Commander, revalidating the HQ at Very High Readiness and operating in a multinational formation in the North Atlantic in a support of NATO and the JEF. In June 2023 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and commenced his current role as National Hydrographer.
Essenhigh has had three Staff appointments in the UK Ministry of Defence, the first as an SO1 Desk Officer in International Policy and Plans with responsibilities spanning the Asia Pacific region. He returned to the MOD in January 2018 as Captain Navy Plans in the Financial Military Capability Plans area before assuming the role of Deputy Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in 2019.
He has a Bachelor’s Degree in French, Russian and Philosophy from Durham University, and a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from King’s College London. He completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2012 and the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2022.
Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh OBE, the National Hydrographer and Director of Data Acquisition and Defence at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), shares his insights to mark World Hydrography Day, which took place on 21 June, celebrating the vital role of …