Lieutenant
Commander
David Louis
Royal Navy
Commanding Officer
HMS CHIDDINGFOLD
(MCM2 Crew 1)
Raised in Sussex David Louis joined the Navy in September 1998 as a University Cadet
Entrant. Following a year of basic officer training, including serving onboard HMS
Birmingham, he commenced a Master of Science in Physics at Imperial College London.
Returning to full Naval Service in 2003 he completed initial warfare officer training,
including serving onboard HMS Pembroke. For his first complement role he was
appointed as an Officer of the Watch onboard HMS Monmouth in 2005. During his time
Monmouth completed Operational Sea Training, supporting Submarine Command Course
and participated in combined French, Russian, UK and US exercises.
Having completed the Mine Clearance Diving Officers’ course he then joined MCM 2 Crew
6 as Operations Officer onboard HMS Ledbury. This period included participation in the
Standing NATO Mine Clearance task group before relieving a sister crew onboard HMS
Atherstone as part of the MCM component based in Bahrain. Subsequently he was then
appointed as Executive Officer of MCM2 Crew 1 embarked on HMS Quorn, this time
deploying from the UK to relieve another component of the standing MCM force for a
further contribution to standing MCM force in the Middle East.
Selected for PWO training in 2013 he was appointed HMS Bulwark as PWO(C) in 2014.
Then followed a busy program of Amphibious generation, deployment to the
Mediterranean and Middle East and a wide range of Fleet Flagship ceremonial duties. For
his second tour as a PWO he was appointed as Staff Mine Warfare and Diving Officer to
COMUKMARFOR in the Maritime Battlestaff in 2015. Whilst there the staff were validated
and assumed the role of Maritime NATO Response Force Commander as well as
participating in joint level higher tactical and operational planning. Joining MCM2
Squadron in Summer 2016 he took Command of MCM2 Crew 1 onboard HMS Hurworth
before Joint Warrior and Operational Sea Training. He then deployed with his crew and
took Command of HMS Chiddingfold in January 2017.
Living in Sussex David retains a keen interest in mountain biking and walking, cooking with
various levels of success, and is usually gripped by any opportunity to watch Rugby or
Cricket.