 He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1977 (seniority 1 January 1977), to lieutenant commander on 1 January 1985, and was promoted to commander on 31 December 1990.Ibbotson was given command of the mine countermeasure vessel before serving in the Gulf War in 1991 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.He went on to command the frigate before joining the Directorate of Nuclear Policy at the Ministry of Defence.