Steve Bennett (Pacifica)
Steve Bennett | |
|---|---|
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| Prime Minister of Valkyria | |
| Assumed office 26 July 2022 | |
| President | Kate Murphy |
| Preceded by | Stella Kaufman |
| Leader of the Socialist Party | |
| Assumed office 18 January 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Amalia Rollins |
| Member of the Valkyrian Parliament for Ravneby's 2nd | |
| Assumed office 19 June 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Steffan Torsson Bennett 13 June 1981 Ravneby, Qvait |
| Political party | Socialist |
| Parents | Tor Bjarkarsson Bennett Sanna Hendriksdottir |
| Alma mater | University of Ravneby |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Qvait Valkyria |
| Branch/service | Qvaitican Navy Valkyrian Special Forces |
| Years of service | 2003–2017 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Njord Group |
| Battles/wars | 2014 war of the South Pacific |
| Awards | See below |
Steffan Torsson Bennett (born 13 June 1981) is a Valkyrian politician who has been serving as the prime minister of Valkyria since 2022 and leader of the Socialist Party since 2020.
Early life
Military careeer
Bennett joined the Qvaitican Navy in June 2003 after graduating from the University of Ravneby. After spending two months in officer training, Bennett earned the rank of junior lieutenant in August and was stationed on the Valkyrie class frigate QRS Mist for three years. In that time, the Mist travelled on the open seas of the Southern Pacific Ocean, making various stops on allied ports. After his promotion to lieutenant in 2005, Bennett returned to Qvait to undergo special forces training, which lasted for six months. He ended up graduating with honours, earning commendatory remarks from his instructors due to his exhibition of leadership while under stress.
In October 2005, Bennett joined Njord Group, which was recognized by the military as the most elite special forces unit in the Qvaitican Armed Forces. Most of Bennett's activities as part of the unit remain a secret, but declassified government documents show that Bennett took part in special operations and underwent periodic training alongside allied special forces. In 2014, Bennett was a participant in the 2014 war of the South Pacific, fighting in the water as part of underwater demolition and sabotage operations and on the ground in the Battle of Gullkysten against invading Sporaltryan forces.
Bennett's service during the Battle of Gullkysten was the most meritorious period of his military service, earning him six military orders, especially the Order of Mjølner, the highest honour given to a soldier who does not die in battle. During the five-week battle, Bennett was credited for 86 confirmed kills as a sniper, some of which were against people who posed an immediate threat to fellow Qvaitican soldiers. At times, Bennett was also fighting on the ground in close-quarters combat. Though, the act that earned Bennett the Order of Mjølner was his unit's impromptu evacuation of 17 civilians away from the battle, all of whom were successfully rescued. However, Bennett suffered a gunshot wound that fractured his clavicle and four other squadmates were killed in their effort to evacuate the civilians.
Because of his injury in Gullkysten, Bennett spent the remainder of the war in an underground bunker in northern Qvait that was repurposed as a hospital for wounded soldiers and civilians.
Dates of promotion
| Ins. | Rank | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austral | Valkyrian | ||
|
Colonel[lower-alpha 1] | Oberst | January 2017 |
|
Commander-captain | Kommandørkaptein | January 2014 |
|
War captain | Orlogskaptein | March 2011 |
|
Captain lieutenant | Kapteinløytnant | February 2008 |
|
Lieutenant | Løytnant | March 2005 |
|
Junior lieutenant | Fenrik | August 2003 |
Political career
Member of Parliament
Socialist leadership
2022 general election
Prime minister (2022–present)
Political positions
Personal life
Awards and decorations
Order of Mjølner
Order of the Dauntless
Grand Order of the Protectors
Order of the Southern Cross
Order of the Heroes
Order of Blood
Service Medal
Humanitarian Medal
Precision Medal
Notes
- ↑ Bennett transferred to the Valkyrian Special Forces after the unification of Qvait and Fjernøy in 2016. Had he joined the Valkyrian Navy, his sixth rank would have been commander (kommandør).