Fleet Commander
The Fleet Commander is a senior Royal Navy post, responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the Naval Service. The Vice-Admiral incumbent is required to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for operations, and is based at Navy Command Headquarters.
Fleet Commander | |
---|---|
Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Member of | Admiralty Board, Navy Board, Navy Command |
Reports to | First Sea Lord |
Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence |
Appointer | Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council |
Term length | Not fixed (typically 1–4 years) |
Inaugural holder | Admiral George Zambellas |
Formation | 2012 |
The post was created in April 2012 following a reorganisation of the Royal Navy and a re-designation of the former role of Commander-in-Chief Fleet.[1]
Responsibilities
The Fleet Commander's purpose is to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for any operations that the Government requires.[1]
The Fleet Commander's major subordinates included as of 31 March 2016:[2][3]
- Commander Operations
- Office of the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships)
- Commander United Kingdom Strike Force
- Commandant General Royal Marines
The previous post of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)/Flag Officer Sea Training[4] was, as of June 2020, disestablished. It was superseded by Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training.[5]
The British Army equivalent is Commander Field Army. The RAF's Deputy Commander (Operations) is the close equivalent of the two positions.[6]
List of Fleet Commanders
Fleet Commander
Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff[7] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Rank | Name | Term began | Term ended |
Admiral | Sir George Zambellas[8] | April 2012 | December 2012 | |
Vice Admiral | Sir Philip Jones | December 2012 | February 2016 | |
Fleet Commander and Chief Naval Warfare Officer[9] | ||||
Vice Admiral | Ben Key[9] | February 2016 | March 2019 | |
Vice Admiral | Jerry Kyd[10] | March 2019 |
Deputy Fleet Commander
- April–December 2012: Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones[11]
- Position Vacant[12]
References
- Navy Board
- "Ministry of Defence Organogram". data.gov.uk. MOD 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- "Royal Navy Directory 2017" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- "Navy Command senior, as of April 2017 - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. MOD UK. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- "Who is the new Flag Officer Sea Training" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. Whatdotheyknow. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
In response to your request, I can advise you that the title Flag Officer Sea Training will cease to exist on 1 May 2020 and is replaced by the 1* post of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
- Air Command senior, as of September 2012
- "Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- Ups and outs: October 2012 Defence Viewpoints
- "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces.net. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- Royal Navy’s Deputy Fleet Commander Visits UK Hydrographic Office Subsea World News, 30 July 2012
- Navy senior staff, March 2013