Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, the highest ranking and most senior admiral to serve in the British Armed Forces. Commissioned to capture Sir Ben’s official portrait, we visited Naval Headquarters in Portsmouth, photographing the Admiral on Board his Flag ship HMS Victory.

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984. He saw action as a Principal Warfare Officer in the frigate HMS Somersetduring the Kosovo War in 1999. After briefly serving as commanding officer of the minehunter HMS Sandown, he became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Iron Duke in 2000 and HMS Lancaster in 2001.

He went on to be a staff officer in the Directorate of Naval Resources and Plans at the Ministry of Defence in 2003, Advisor to the Director Joint Staff in the Iraqi Joint Headquarters in 2006 and then a staff officer at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in 2007. After that he became commanding officer of the aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious in February 2009, Commodore Joint Air Maritime Organisation in February 2010 and Director of Naval Plans and Resources at the Ministry of Defence in May 2011.

Key was appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2011, and Flag Officer Sea Training in April 2013. He was appointed Fleet Commander and promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 10 February 2016. He became Chief of Joint Operations in April 2019.

Key received the United States Bronze Star Medal in 2006 and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath(KCB) in the 2021 New Year Honours. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Royal Holloway, University of London in 2018.

Key led Operation Pitting, the UK's evacuation efforts in Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive, in August 2021 and, on 15 October, it was announced that Key was to be the next First Sea Lord. He assumed the post from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on 8 November 2021.

Based in Downtown Los Angeles with studios in The Financial District of New York and London UK. Rory Lewis is the USA’s & UK’s foremost Military Portraitist Photographer. Rory is regularly commissioned to photograph high profile Military Officers for all branches of the Military Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marines, RAF & Royal Navy. 

Portraits are very important to military personal. To be captured in uniform looking ones best and in full finery, can fill one with pride for the service. 

Portraiture is Rory’s speciality, he is just as comfortable working with High Ranking Officers as with NCO’s and Enlisted Personnel. You will find his friendly and professional approach helps put even the most photo-phobic at ease. Discounts Available for Large Groups.