Lieutenant Commander C M Barrow Royal Navy

Commanding Officer HMS Dasher and Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron

Lieutenant Commander Charlie Barrow was brought up in Poole and educated at Poole Grammar School before joining the Royal Navy in 2000.

Initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College included time at sea on board HMS Sheffield, and subsequent fleet training was conducted on board HMS Argyll and HMS Quorn amongst others.  After completing initial warfare training, he qualified as a Fighter Controller and joined the Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh.  The ship immediately deployed to the Gulf for Operation Telic, and also completed time attached to NATO on Operation Active Endeavour.

Joining HMS Illustrious in 2004 as one of the Battle Watch Directors, a full post-refit training package culminated in a deployment to Oman and India during Operation Aquila ’06.  Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Maritime) was then followed by an appointment as the Operations Officer of the Naval Strike Wing (the Royal Navy’s front line Harrier GR9 squadron), which including detachments to the Baltic on board HMS Illustrious and on operations in Afghanistan.

A short period as the Force Planning Coordination Officer for Joint Force Harrier followed, before assuming command of HMS Dasher in November 2008.  He was promoted Lieutenant Commander and Commanding Officer Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron in July 2009.

Engaged to Ceri (and her horses!), Lieutenant Commander Barrow lives in West Sussex, enjoying a variety of activities including sailing, horse riding and walking.