Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces

Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan is a 1980 Cum Laude graduate of the University of Virginia where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.

His first operational assignment was as a plank owner to Strike Fighter Squadron 131 where he made the first East coast deployment of the F/A-18 culminating in the successful Libyan air strikes in April 1986. He served as a department head in Strike Fighter Squadron 37 earning the Strike Fighter Wing’s Longhart Leadership Award.

Donegan commanded Strike Fighter Squadron 131 completing a deployment to the Arabian Gulf and the 3rd Fleet command ship, USS Coronado (AGF 11), earning three command excellence awards. He also commanded the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on a combat deployment earning the Battle E. He spearheaded Naval Aviation Enterprise’s Carrier Readiness Team, and was honored as the Tailhook Association’s Tailhooker of the Year for 2006. He also commanded Battle Force 7th Fleet and Carrier Strike Group 5 aboard USS George Washington, homeported in Japan.

Ashore, Donegan’s most recent joint assignment was director of operations for United States Central Command. He served at the Pentagon as Acting Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3N5), director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review, director of Strategy and Policy Division on the Navy staff, director of Warfare Integration, and as the aide/administrative assistant to the deputy chief of Naval operations for Plans, Policy and Operations. He completed joint duty as flag lieutenant to the commander, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. During that tour he deployed to Sarajevo as the NATO liaison officer to the commander, United Nations Protection Forces serving as the principal air advisor during NATO’s Deliberate Force air strikes.

Donegan graduated the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School as the Outstanding Student, the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), the Navy Nuclear Power School, the USAF Air Command and Staff College, the Joint Forces Staff College and completed Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program in National and International Security.

His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, five Legions of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and multiple unit, service, and campaign awards. His flying experience includes over 3,800 hours in 31 different types of aircraft and over 800 arrested landings on 15 different aircraft carriers.

Commodore Will J Warrender MA

United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander, Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces

Will Warrender joined the Royal Navy in January 1988 and has served as a Navigator, Fighter Controller and Principal Warfare Officer in ships ranging from Minehunters to Aircraft Carriers. He has been fortunate to command 2 Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures vessels (CHIDDINGFOLD, CATTISTOCK), 2 Type 23 Frigates (ARGYLL, MONTROSE) and most recently the T45 Destroyer HMS DAUNTLESS, completing the first T45 deployment to the South Atlantic. Additionally he has been engaged on operations in the Gulf, Indian Ocean, North Atlantic, Mediterranean as well as on counter narcotic operations in the Caribbean and off West Africa.

During appointments ashore Commodore Warrender has served in the Ministry of Defence as the Programmer in the Directorate of Equipment Capability (Above Water Effects) where he was responsible for the programming and planning of the Royal Navy’s future capabilities, including the replacement Aircraft Carriers and Type 45 Destroyers. He also served on the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training as Commander Sea Training (CST). In a very enjoyable 15 months as CST, and latterly as Commander Mobile Sea Training, he was responsible for delivering over 30 periods of sea training to RN and foreign warships. Promoted to Captain in 2011, and following his Command of HMS DAUNTLESS, he returned to the MOD as the Assistant Head of the UK team in the Operations Directorate, responsible for the coordination of UK Counter Terrorism and Resilience Operations.

He returns to command in March 2015, as the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander and Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain.

A Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Freeman of the City of London and a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course, Commodore Warrender is a keen sportsman having represented the Royal Navy and Combined Services at hockey; with age catching up with him he is now an enthusiastic member of the RN Veterans team.