Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, GCB, OBE, DL (born 26 March 1952) is a retired Royal Navy officer.

He served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval staff, the professional head of the Royal Navy, from July 2009 to April 2013.

[1] He commanded the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious from 1998 to 2000 during which time that ship was deployed on operational patrol off Sierra Leone.

[8] Promoted to full admiral on 10 July 2004,[9] Stanhope became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation at NATO that year.

[1] Stanhope succeeded Admiral Sir Jonathon Band as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval staff in July 2009.

[19] Stanhope is an Honorary Fellow of St. Peter's College, Oxford, a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon, a Freeman of the City of London, The President of the Marine Society & Sea Cadets and a Liveryman of the Upholders' Company as well as a Younger Brother of Trinity House.