VADM Sir John Neitz, Earl of Westmarch, assumed command of the Royal Manticoran Navy’s Second (Gryphon) Fleet on 22 May 2015. He flies his flag from HMS Invincible SD-455.

He graduated from the Royal Manticoran Naval Academy at Saganami Island, as well as the Naval War College, and is a summa cum laude member of the Ellen D’Orville Honor Society. He received a doctoral degree in Interstellar Relations from Queens College, Landing University.

His previous commands include HMS Merlin CA-270, aboard which he served as the founding captain of Second Fleet’s first operational ship, and then HMS Invincible BC-416. He then served as CO of Cruiser Division 211, Battlecruiser Squadron 21, 1st Battle Squadron, and Task Force 21, before being appointed Commanding Officer of Second Fleet.

His planetside duty assignments have included Joint Forces Special Projects for BuComm, Naval Attaché to the Manticoran College of Heralds, Director of BuShips’ Office of Shipbuilding Support, and BuNine staff member.

He was made a Knight of the Order of King Roger in 2012, and elevated to the title of Lord Westmarch in the peerage of the Star Kingdom in 2013. He has been awarded the Manticore Cross and the Distinguished Service Order, as well as various other gallantry, service, campaign, and unit awards. In 2012 he was appointed honorary Weapons Officer of HMS Unconquered, the RMN’s oldest commissioned warship.