Educated at Canford School, Rear Admiral Jeremy de Halpert joined the Royal Navy in 1966. On leaving the Royal Naval College Dartmouth his early career was spent in HM Ships AURORA and LONDON in the Far East and the Gulf. Appointments to HM Ships PHOEBE and LOWESTOFT saw duty in the Caribbean and the Far East before he took Command of the minehunter HMS SHERATON in 1975, serving the UK waters. Specialising in Navigation in 1978, his warfare appointments included HMS AJAX in the Mediterranean and HMS BRISTOL for the Falklands war and deployments to the Caribbean and South Atlantic.

Promoted Commander in 1984, he took Command of HMS APOLLO for service in the UK and Caribbean after which he attended the Joint Services Defence College before joining the Directorate of Naval Staff Duties in the Ministry of Defence. In 1989 he was appointed to the Naval Command College at the US Naval War College Rhode Island, for a year in defence studies.

Promoted Captain in 1990 he commanded HMS CAMPBELTOWN for service with the Standing Naval Force Atlantic, before joining the staff of Flag Officer Surface Flotilla in Portsmouth as Chief of Staff. In 1994 he was posted to SHAPE, Belgium as the Deputy UK National Military Representative. Promoted Commodore in June 1996, he assumed the appointment of Director Overseas Military Activity at the Ministry of Defence, London.

He was promoted to Rear Admiral in December 1998 and appointed Naval Secretary/Chief Executive of the Naval Manning Agency. He was made CB in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2001.

He retired from the Royal Navy in April 2002 to take up the post of Deputy Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, the organisation responsible for the provision of Aids to Navigation around England, Wales and the Channel Islands, and one of the largest maritime charities in the country. With his wife Jane and 3 children he lives near Petersfield, Hampshire. A keen skier and squash player, he also lists real tennis, cricket and vintage wines among his hobbies.