The Queen’s Birthday Honours List has recognized military members from all three services for their dedication and exemplary service.
For their service in the Armed Forces, individuals have received state honors. Serving individuals have been honored for their efforts during the pandemic and in interacting with the broader armed forces communities.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, which was released today, recognized military people from all three services for their dedication and meritorious service.
All of the honorees have gone above and above while on duty, demonstrating great tenacity and dedication to their jobs, with several of them being recognized for their long-term contributions to the Armed Forces.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
A huge congratulations to the Service men and women who have been recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The awards highlight the talent, commitment and dedication of our incredible Armed Forces.
Our Service personnel continue to be a great source of pride and inspiration for our country. They are the best of us, and it is fantastic to see so many recognised for their hard work.
Some of the servicemen and women who have been honored in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List are highlighted below.
Captain Harpreet Kaur Chandi has been honored with an MBE.
On November 24, 2021, Captain Chandi stepped into the ice of Antarctica. She completed a solo and unsupported expedition to the South Pole in under 40 days, making history as the first woman of color to do so. The expedition’s rigorous preparation and training took only two years under the name ‘Polar Preet.’ This mission highlights the adventure and personal development opportunities available to all soldiers, regardless of their background, gender, or race. She is currently the third woman to cover the continent in the quickest time.
Brigadier Karl Harris is a CBE recipient.
The Army Multicultural Network’s excellent and selfless leadership has been a key role in establishing and maintaining trust between the Army chain of command and its officers and troops. He graduated from Sandhurst in 1994 and has created, mentored, and managed an informal network of multicultural soldiers ever then. He founded the Network in 2015, and within the initial weeks of the national lockdown in 2020, he formed a remote working group to better investigate and address the disproportionate impact of COVID19 on minority ethnic soldiers, their families, and their units.
John Raymond ELLIS QHC, Air Vice Marshal (The Venerable), has been promoted to the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath as a Companion.
His energy and dedication as RAF Chaplain-in-Chief will leave a legacy of leadership and strong transformational instincts. He has been at the forefront of the Royal Air Force’s professional career field modernization, resetting the chaplaincy structure, training, and career routes while also re-energizing chaplaincy recruitment. He also oversaw the chaplaincy through a particularly trying time, when he weathered the pandemic and used it to his advantage by developing a number of novel virtual worship approaches and models that have since been widely used and copied.
Melanie Robinson, Commodore, has been awarded the CBE.
From becoming the first female commanding officer of a Royal Navy cruiser to being the senior Maritime Reservist and the first woman to command a fighting arm supporting the Fleet, Commodore Robinson has made an outstanding contribution to Defence. She has overseen a generational transformation in the direction and management of the Maritime Reserves, with a comprehensive long-term vision of how they should be constructed. Her leadership has built a Reserve force that is a credible, relevant, effective, and nimble fighting arm of the Royal Navy, fulfilling important Defence responsibilities alongside Regular colleagues.
Nina Rose, Wing Commander, has been granted an RRC.
Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service and Defence Medical Services have a true ambassador in Wing Commander Rose. Wing Commander Rose’s empathic and authentic leadership, combined with an operational and academic perspective, has shone brightly in the previous two years, as she dealt with the COVID-19 problem with tenacity and determination. Her forward presence in the clinical areas, where she inspired the workforce and controlled workforce shortfalls and repurposed the wards to deliver the required surge capacity, was a result of her role modeling behavior and visible leadership.
Lieutenant Commander Nathaniel Geddes is the recipient of an MBE.
HMS Defender Marine Engineering Department was directed by Lieutenant Commander Geddes, who ensured the greatest degree of material availability in support of missions. He performed a major part in ensuring that the ship could continue to play a critical role in support of the strategically important United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group deployment despite significant operational constraints and an intense political spotlight. His efforts were notably visible in the Black Sea, where he successfully outmanoeuvred hostile forces.
Wing Commander Manjeet Ghataora has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Wing Commander Ghataora has been an inspiring advocate and role model for underrepresented communities, conducting great outreach work. He has been particularly effective in promoting STEM and engineering jobs to a wide range of young people. As the most senior Sikh in the Armed Forces, he has also used his clout to interact selflessly with young people and communities across the UK.