Rear Admiral Simon Paul Williams, (born 13 July 1960), is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Naval Secretary, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Flag Officer (Maritime Reserves) from March 2015 to June 2018.
Since 2025, Williams serves as Prior of St John in England.
Born in 1960 at Bristol, Williams was educated at Kingsbridge School, the City University London (BSc) and the Britannia Royal Naval College.
Williams was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1978. After taking charge of the minesweeper , he was promoted Commanding Officer of the frigate in 2001 and of the frigate in 2005.
Williams became Director of Naval Personnel Strategy at the Ministry of Defence in 2008, Commodore of the Britannia Royal Naval College in March 2011 and then Defence Services Secretary as well as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Training) in October 2012. He went on to be Naval Secretary, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Flag Officer (Maritime Reserves) in March 2015.
Appointed Chancellor of the Priory of England and Islands of the Order of St John in 2023, Williams was promoted Prior of St John in 2025.
Williams is the son of Philip Williams and June née Winterton, a kinswoman of Baroness Winterton of Doncaster.
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