Amjad Hussain
Amjad Hussain | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 May 1958 Rawalpindi, Pakistan |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1976–2012 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath |
Rear Admiral Amjad Mazhar Hussain, CB (born 15 May 1958) is a senior retired Royal Navy officer. He was the highest-ranking member of the British Armed Forces from an ethnic minority.
Background and personal life[edit]
Born in Pakistan, Hussain and his mother moved to the United Kingdom in 1962 when he was three years old, to join his father who was working as a railway signalman.[1]
In 1983 Amjad married Wendy Downer; they have three children: Sam, Zara and Hannah.[1]
Career[edit]
Hussain joined the Royal Navy as a Weapons Engineering Officer in 1976, and was sponsored to study engineering science and business administration at Collingwood College, University of Durham, from 1976 to 1979.[1][2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1981 (seniority from 1 April).[3] He was promoted to commander on 31 December 1992, and to captain on 31 December 1997.[4][5]
Hussain served as Naval Base Commodore, Portsmouth, from mid-2002, where his accommodation was in Spithead House.[1][6] In 2006 he was appointed Director General Logistics (Fleet) and promoted to the rank of rear admiral,[6][7] and thereby became the highest ranking Muslim and the highest-ranking officer from an ethnic minority in the British Armed Forces.[1][8] He was appointed Director-General Weapons in 2008,[9] and Director (Precision Attack) and Controller of the Navy in March 2009.[6]
Hussain is a prominent advocate of greater minority participation in the armed forces. However, he dislikes too much emphasis being placed on his religion.[2][10] He was recognised in the Muslim Power 100 List as one of the most influential Muslims in the United Kingdom.[11] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2011 New Year Honours.[12][13]
Awards and nominations[edit]
In January 2013, Hussain was awarded the Civil Servant of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.[14]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Akbar, Arifa (15 April 2006). "Admiral becomes highest-ranking officer from an ethnic minority". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
- ^ a b Benjamin, Alison (6 September 2006). "Leading questions: Rear Admiral Amjad Hussain is the highest ranking Muslim officer in the armed forces". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
- ^ "No. 48755". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1981. p. 12626.
- ^ "No. 53178". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 January 1993. p. 893.
- ^ "No. 5012". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 January 1998. p. 351.
- ^ "No. 58095". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 September 2006. p. 12407.
- ^ "Muslim becomes Navy rear admiral". BBC News. BBC Online. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
- ^ Whitaker's Almanack 2009.
- ^ ""Nothing out of the ordinary" – Navy's highest-ranking Muslim speaks about his promotion". Royal Navy. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2008.
- ^ "Most influential Muslims revealed".
- ^ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 2.
- ^ ""New Year Honours for Lennox, Suchet, Hancock and Webb" 31 December 2010". BBC News. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
- ^ "Winners honoured at British Muslim Awards". Asian Image. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2015.