HQ SACT Who's Who?
Chief of Staff
Vice Admiral C A Johnstone-Burt CB OBE MA
UK Royal Navy
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Tony Johnstone-Burt joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in 1977. His first Ship was the Type 21 Frigate HMS ACTIVE in which he served during the Falklands War. He sub-specialised in aviation as a pilot flying Gazelles, Sea Kings and Lynx helicopters from Carriers, Frigates and Destroyers, before specialising further as a Principal Warfare Officer in Anti-Submarine Warfare.
In addition to staff appointments in the MoD, his operational commands at sea include: the Type 22 Frigate HMS BRAVE, conducting counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean for JIATF South, Key West; HMS MONTROSE, as the Captain of the Sixth Frigate Squadron comprising eight Type 23 Frigates and conducting operations in support of the UK and UN forces in Sierra Leone; and commanding the Amphibious Helicopter Carrier HMS OCEAN.
In command appointments continuously since 2000, as a One Star he commanded Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and later became the Deputy Commander of the Joint Helicopter Command. Promoted to Two Star in 2006, he became Flag Officer Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Flag Officer Reserves. He then returned to command the Joint Helicopter Command and was responsible for 16 Air Assault Brigade's two deployments as the Task Force Helmand in 2008 and 2010/11, and all UK helicopter support to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including support to UK SOF.
During this time he conducted a Review of Jointery on behalf of the UK's Strategic Defence Review in which he recommended the formation of a UK Joint Forces Command. The UK's JFCOM was established in April 2012.
He completed an operational tour in Afghanistan as COMISAF's Director of Counter Narcotics and International Organised Crime, prior to joining SACT.
He is a graduate of Durham University, the US Naval War College and Salve Regina University, Rhode Island, where he studied Anthropology and Psychology, Strategic Studies and International Relations respectively. His awards include the Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and Order of the British Empire. He and his wife, Rachel, live in Norfolk, Virginia and they have five adult children, a dog and a cat and he enjoys stand-up paddle boarding, running and water sports.
