Abbott was
commissioned into the
Royal Navy in 1964. He commanded the minesweeper from 1972 to 1975 and then joined the staff of the Senior Naval Officer in the
West Indies. He became commanding officer of the
frigate in 1976, second-in-command of the aircraft carrier in 1980 and the
Chief of Defence Staff's briefer during the
Falklands War in 1982. He then became commanding officer of the frigate as well as captain of the
1st Frigate Squadron in 1983. He became Director of Navy Plans in 1985 and, having been promoted to
rear admiral, he was appointed
Flag Officer, Second Flotilla in 1989. He was made
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1991 and, having been promoted to
vice admiral, was appointed
Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in 1993. He became
Commander-in-Chief Fleet and, having been promoted to
admiral in 1995, he became
Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in 1997. ==Later life==