Matthew Parr (Royal Navy officer)


Matthew John Parr, is a retired Royal Navy officer who has served as Commander Operations and Rear Admiral, Submarines.

Early life and education

Parr was born on 20 August 1962 in Coventry, England. He studied geography at Hatfield College, Durham, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983.

Naval career

Parr joined the Royal Navy in 1984. He completed the Submarine Command Course in 1993 and then became Executive Officer of the submarine. He became an Operations Officer at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 1995 and was then given command of the submarine in 1997.
Parr became Commanding Officer of the frigate as well as Captain of the 6th Frigate Squadron in 2001, Deputy Flag Officer Sea Training at Plymouth in 2003 and then returned to Northwood to join the Fleet Operations in 2005. He went on to be Commander, British Forces Gibraltar in May 2007, Director of Operational Capability at the Ministry of Defence in March 2009, and Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in December 2010. He became Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in December 2011, which was re-designated Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in April 2012, and Commander Operations and Rear Admiral, Submarines in May 2013. Parr retired in April 2016.
Parr was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2014 New Year Honours.

Later life

On leaving the navy, Parr was appointed to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. He has additionally been an HM Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services since 2017.