Royal Navy Petty Officer Luke Ebsworth, from Hereford, has two major causes for celebration as 2017 begins.
Luke has been promoted to Chief Petty Officer with effect from March, and in summer 2016 he was awarded the QCVS – Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service - for his work in HMS Somerset.
Luke, 35, who works for NATO in Northwood, near London, joined the Royal Navy in 2002 and trained as a Weapons Engineer.
He has spent the past few years working on anti-piracy operations in Royal Navy frigates and has been pleased to see the NATO efforts to combat piracy paying off.
Luke said: “It’s satisfying knowing that anti-piracy operations have made a real impact over the years.
“It’s noticeable from when I was first deployed in 2009 to my most recent deployment in 2014 there was a reduction in the number of incidents, which is a testament to the hard work NATO has put into reducing piracy.”
Currently Luke has a shore job, although he expects to go back to sea at the end of 2017. He works in the NATO Communications and Information Agency, where he is responsible for maintaining IT infrastructure.
His work is essential in making sure that NATO ships, submarines, task groups and land bases overseas have full network connectivity for phone lines and computers.
Luke, a former pupil of Bishops of Hereford Bluecoat School, had already received the Op Atlanta (NATO) medal in 2009 and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2012, when in the summer of 2016 he was awarded the QCVS, which was presented by the Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Ben Key.
He said: “I was completely shocked and humbled to receive this award. It was totally unexpected and I was surprised to get recognition for what essentially was just doing my job.”
He added: “The high profile of the mission just highlighted the hard working conditions and long hours endured by most members of the armed services. It was the proudest moment in my career.”
Luke still returns to Hereford when he can to visit his parents, Elizabeth and Peter Ebsworth.
A keen sportsman, he had to stop playing rugby after a knee injury, and now confines his interest to being a spectator. But he still finds time for cooking, music and enjoys watching boxing and mixed martial arts.
