Captain N A Budd MA, MNI, MCMI, RFA. Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Nigel was born in Windlesham Surrey and was educated at Farnborough Grammar School, leaving in 1972. He joined Shell Tankers (UK) as a Deck Cadet in 1973, qualifying as an Officer-of-the Watch in 1976. He joined the RFA as a Third Officer in 1978 and has since served at sea on most classes of RFA in a wide variety of roles.

During his long service he has served ashore on a number of occasions, including N3 RFA Operations at the Fleet Command Centre at Northwood, Middlesex and the Defence Transport and Movements Agency, Andover, between 2001 and 2003, where he held responsibility for UK strategic movements by road, rail and sea, including ship chartering. From 2005 until 2007 he served as SO1 Personnel Operations at Fleet HQ in Portsmouth, followed by the year-long Joint Services Advanced Command and Staff Course, from which he graduated in July 2008, obtaining a Master’s degree in the process.

His first command was RFA Sea Crusader in 2003, where he saw service in the northern Persian Gulf during the Iraq conflict. Subsequent commands have also included brief periods on ‘Leaf’ and ‘Rover’ class ships. Nigel served as Commanding Officer of RFA Wave Ruler from August 08 until March 09. During this period he assisted British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean in the wake of four hurricanes and served during the early stages of the ‘Taurus’ deployment in 2009. He received substantive promotion to Captain in January 2009. He is scheduled to again assume command of Wave Ruler in April 10.

Nigel lives in southern Hampshire and is married to Charlotte. They have three children:  boy/girl twins aged 16, and a10 year-old daughter. Nigel’s interests include running, scuba diving and canoeing, all when weather, fitness and enthusiasm permit!