His Excellency’s biography
His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Jerry Kyd KBE was educated at The King’s School, Macclesfield, and Southampton University. Joining the Royal Navy in 1985, his early career saw him deployed across the world’s oceans, from the Atlantic to the Gulf and Indian Ocean, where he specialised as a Navigator and Gunnery Officer.
Across a 37-year career, his commands at various ranks have included the Type 23 frigate HMS MONMOUTH, the strike carrier HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS in the commando carrier role, and the on-call United Kingdom Task Group, regularly deploying to the Gulf, Mediterranean and the Atlantic. He has also had the privilege of being the Captain of Britannia Royal Naval College, where all Naval officers complete their initial military and leadership training. He assumed the role of Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group in 2015, before taking command of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH in May 2016.
Promoted Rear Admiral in 2018, he took Command of Maritime Forces, before being promoted Vice Admiral in 2019 and assuming command of all five fighting arms of the Royal Navy as the Fleet Commander. Shore appointments have centred on the Ministry of Defence in London, including two years as the Military Assistant and Deputy Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Deputy Head of the Directorate of Operational Capability and as a desk officer for the Future Surface Combatant project (now Type 26 frigate). He has also instructed at the Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood.
He retired from the Royal Navy in March 2022 and was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Bailiwick of Jersey in October 2022. Vice Admiral Kyd is a Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster and a Member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, a Younger Brother of Trinity House, and a Distinguished Fellow of the Defence and Security ‘think-tank’, RUSI. When in the Navy he was President of Royal Navy Boxing and Ice Sports. He is now President of the Association of Sail Training Organisations.
Roles and responsibilities
The Lieutenant-Governor is appointed by His Majesty The King for a 5 year term. He is The King’s personal representative on Island and impartial adviser for Jersey.
The Lieutenant-Governor’s responsibilities include:
- represent The King on ceremonial occasions
- be an impartial adviser to The King
- host royal, ambassadorial and VIP visits and occasions in conjunction with the Island’s authorities and the UK government
- be a point of contact between the Island’s authorities and the UK government
- promote and play an active part in the social and charitable affairs of the Island and to promote community activity in this area
- oversees key matters relating to British citizenship
- communicate recommendations for certain Crown appointments to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from the Insular and Church authorities
- make recommendations for the award of honours to Jersey residents
- be the Commander-in-Chief of British Armed Forces on the Island
- direct the administration of the Crown Estate on the Island