Chain of command

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Operation Commander EU Naval Force

The Operation Commander commands the operation from the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) at Northwood, United Kingdom. There he plans and conducts the operation in conjunction with the political and military authorities of the European Union.

Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts

was born in Malta in 1961 and was educated at Wellington School, Somerset before joining the Navy in 1979.  After initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College, and at sea, he studied Systems and Management at the City University, London.  Returning to sea in 1983, he served as the Navigating Officer of HMS BILDESTON and BRILLIANT.

Qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer (Underwater) in 1988, he served in HMSs AMBUSCADE and NORFOLK, on exchange with the United States Navy in Norfolk, Virginia and on the Staff of the Commander United Kingdom Task Group (COMUKTG)/ Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Strike Force.

On Promotion to Commander in 1996 he assumed command of HMS BRILLIANT, to oversee her sale to Brazil, and then commanded HMS SOUTHAMPTON during which he deployed to the Gulf.  In 1998 he was appointed to the Policy and Programmes Cell at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (UK) before becoming Commander Sea Training to Flag Officer Sea Training.  On promotion to Captain in 2000 he commanded HMS MARLBOROUGH and the 4th Frigate Squadron; he once again deployed to the Middle East.

Subsequently, he spent 4 years in the Ministry of Defence.  Initially as Captain Navy Plans, responsible for the size and structure of the Royal Navy, and latterly as the MA to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff.  On promotion to Commodore in 2007 he was appointed COMUKTG, during which time he deployed to Iraq as CTF 158, responsible for security in the Northern Gulf.  He was appointed ACOS J5 at PJHQ in January 2009.

On promotion to Rear Admiral in January 2011, he became Commander UK Maritime Force the UK’s contingent 2 Star Maritime Component Commander, during which time he served as the MCC for NATO Reaction Force 16.  More recently, in July 2011 he took on the duties of Rear Admiral Surface Ships and in August 2011 he assumed Command of the EUNAVFOR counter piracy Operation ATALANTA.

Duncan is married to Pamela and has two children.  He is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course and Royal College of Defence Studies, is a fellow of the Windsor Leadership Trust and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.

Deputy Operation Commander EU Naval Force

Rear Admiral Rainer Endres

Rear Admiral Rainer Endres was born on May 30th, 1957 in Prim, a small town in Germany close to the border with Belgium and Luxembourg. He joined the Navy in 1977.

Having completed his officers education including a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering at the Armed Forces University in Munich, he served as Weapons and Operations Officer on board antisubmarine ships and later as Commanding Officer of FGS THETIS. From 1989 to 1992 he was appointed as Principle Warfare Officer on the Destroyer LUTJENS and later as Personal Assistant to Commander 1st Destroyer Squadron.

Rear Admiral Endres attended the 34th Admiral-Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College of the Bundeswehr in Hamburg. On completion of the course he served at the Federal Armed Forces Staff, Ministry of Defence Bonn, as Military Assistant to the Director Federal Armed Forces Operations Center.

In 1996 he was assigned Executive Officer of Destroyer ROMMEL which he then commanded from 1997. After his time in Command he took responsibility as  Personnel Manager at the Naval Branch of the Armed Forces Personnel Office in Cologne.

In 2003 he attended the 102nd Senior Officers Course at the NATO Defence College in Rome and in September he assumed command of the 2nd Frigate Squadron based in Wilhelmshaven. From August 2005 Rear Admiral Endres was appointed to NATO HQ CC Mar Naples as Division Head N5/9, responsible for Policy, Plans & Concept, Military Cooperation and CIMIC.

He returned to the MOD in Bonn in June 2007 as Chief Navy Branch at the Personnel, Social Services and Central Affairs Directorate. Rear Admiral Endres assumed his position as Director Naval Development, Training and Education at the German Naval Office in Rostock in March 2010.

Rear Admiral Endres is married to Evelyn and they have two sons.

Force Commander EU Naval Force

The Force Commander is exercising command and control of all military forces in the Joint Operation Area. He is responsible for planning, orchestration and execution of military activities.

Rear Admiral Jorge Manso

Captain Jorge Manso was born in Lugo (Spain) in 1957. He joined the Spanish Navy in 1977 and graduated from the Spanish Naval Academy in 1982. In July 2009 he was promoted to Captain.

He specialised in Naval Communications in 1987, and graduated as a Staff Officer from the Spanish Naval War College, in 1997. He took part in the 111th Senior Course at the NATO Defence College in Rome.

He served on board several surface combat vesselss: Destroyers “Langara” and “Gravina”, offshore patrol vessel ”Atrevida”, frigate “Extremadura”, and as Chief Staff Officer of the 41st “Santa María” Frigates class Squadron and of the Spanish Fleet Projection Group.

He was appointed as Commanding Officer of patrol boats “Nalón” and “Tabarca”, corvette “Diana“ and frigate “Reina Sofía”.

Ashore, he has served as an instructor in the Naval Maneuvering School, Chief of Naval Communication Center “Bermeja”, Chief Staff Officer and Coordinator of Spanish Sea Training and Qualifiying Center, Staff Officer at Spanish Joint Defence Staff (Ops. Division), Navy Staff (Strategic Plans Branch) and at Fleet Staff (Plans Branch). He also acted as head of EU Branch at the Defence Policy Directorate in the Ministry of Defense when Spain held the presidency of the EU Council.

Since June 2011 he commands the 41st “Santa María” Frigate Class Squadron.

Rear Admiral Jorge Manso has been awarded five Naval and one Army Merit Medals, one Western European Union Medal, and the Cross and Commendation and Plaque of the “San Hermenegildo” Military Order.