Captain Stephen Higham Royal Navy OBE Steve Higham joined the Royal Navy in 1997 after studying law and international law at Cambridge University. He has commanded five ships; served with UK Special Forces; and supported operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. Higham commanded the destroyer HMS DEFENDER in the Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, working with US and French Aircraft Carriers carrying out strikes against Da’esh and supporting US Special Forces in Yemen. He was subsequently awarded the OBE in the operational honours in April 2017. He recently worked in the Cabinet Office for the National Security Advisor and, in July 2018, was selected by Theresa May to be her Military Assistant, based in her Private Office in No10 Downing Street. Given the additional role of Private Secretary by Boris Johnson in August 2019, he provided support to the Prime Minster on national security policy including: Integrated Review / Spending Review decisions; counterterrorism; intelligence, cyber and military operations; space policy; strategic nuclear policy and the UK’s nuclear and conventional deterrent. Working closely with Ministers, the National Security Advisor and Senior Civil Servants in Cabinet Office / HM Treasury / Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office / MOD / Attorney General’s Office / Department for International Trade and the Home Office, he also advised the Prime Minister on HMG policy in the Middle East, Syria, Eastern Mediterranean, Gulf, South / South-East Asia and NATO and on linked domestic prosperity aspects as part of the Johnson Government’s levelling-up agenda. After leaving No 10, Steve Higham joined HMS PRINCE OF WALES as Commanding Officer in July 2021. His period in command will see the ship conduct first operations as a UK strike aircraft carrier and join HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH to deliver the UK’s continuous, high readiness, strike capability.