Commander Steven Banfield MBE Royal Navy
Educated at St Peter’s College Oxford,
Banfield joined the Royal Navy in 2002. On
completion of Britannia Royal Naval College,
he underwent Fleet training in HM Ships
Cumberland, Edinburgh and Middleton.
Joining the trained strength as Officer of the
Watch (OOW) 2 in HMS Cumberland, his first
assignment saw him undertake a Caribbean
deployment and a period of UK running. In
2006 he was assigned to HMS Daring in build
as OOW 1 and then Navigating Officer.
This period saw the Ship undertake
Contractors Sea Trials, Acceptance off
Contract, Phase 2 Sea Trials and First of Class
Flying Trials. During this assignment he had
the privilege of navigating the first Type 45 to
enter Portsmouth.
6 months in Basra followed as the United Kingdom Liaison Officer to the United States
District South, Iraq, working directly for the Defence Attaché in Baghdad. On promotion to
Lieutenant Commander, he commenced Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) course in 2010.
Graduating in 2011, he undertook a 14 month assignment as Operations Officer and PWO U
in HMS Sutherland which included generation for and execution of a Gulf (Kipion)
deployment.
In early 2013 he was selected to become the Junior Warfare Officers’ Career Manager, a
role he executed until early 2014. He assumed Command of HMS Severn in July 2014
deploying the Ship on the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) in the Caribbean for eight months, the
first time this deployment had been undertaken by an Offshore Patrol Vessel.
Relinquishing Command of HMS Severn in December 2015 he assumed Command of HMS
Clyde from January to August 2016. He was appointed MBE in the 2016 Queen's Birthday
Honours list and promoted to the rank of Commander in June 2016. He assumed Command
of HMS Iron Duke in November 2016.
Banfield is married to Georgina and has two young children. He is a Liveryman of the
Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, enjoys sailing, cricket and attempting to instil discipline
into his exuberant Cocker Spaniel.