The Naval Secretary is the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

officer who advises the

First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff First Sea Lord, officially known as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS), is the title of a statutory position in the British Armed Forces, held by an admiral or a general of the Royal Marines. As the highest-ranking officer to ...

on naval officer appointing (and General Officers). Their counterpart in the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

is the Military Secretary. The

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

equivalent is the

Air Secretary The Air Secretary and Chief of Staff, Personnel is the Royal Air Force officer with responsibility for appointments, promotions, postings, and discipline of high ranking members of the British air force. From 1978 to 1983 the Air Secretary was ...

. The Director People and Training has taken over the role, combining the responsibilities of Flag Officer Sea Training.

History

The Office of the Naval Secretary was originally established in 1800 when the appointment was styled ''Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty'' and remained so styled until 1911. In 1912 it was re-titled ''Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty''. When the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong * Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Tra ...

department was abolished in 1964 the post was renamed ''Naval Secretary'', colloquially known as "NAVSEC", and now advising the Royal Navy's military head and, consequently, the Navy Board on future appointments. In the case of tri-service appointments, the responsibility was to recommend candidates to the Defence Board. From 2010 to 2015, Sir David Steel, as Naval Secretary, simultaneously held the additional title of Chief Naval Logistics Officer (as head the Naval Logistics Branch). In 2015 further additional responsibilities were assumed for the

Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original ...

and the title of Flag Officer, Maritime Reserves. In this capacity the incumbent is responsible for advising the

on all matters relating to Flag Officers’ appointing, with Officers with the rank of Commodore and/or Captain delegated to the Office of Assistant to the Naval Secretary who currently holds the rank of Commodore. A March 2020 edition of ''Navy News'' noted that the Director People and Training took over the people-related policies and career management below this level from the Naval Secretary. In May 2021, it was announced that

Jude Terry Rear Admiral (Royal Navy), Rear Admiral Judith Helen Terry (born 17 September 1973) is a senior Royal Navy officer. In May 2021, it was announced that she would be promoted to Rear admiral (Royal Navy), rear admiral in 2022, thereby becoming the ...

would be the next Naval Secretary, being promoted to rear admiral and taking up the post in 2022. She is the first woman to serve as an admiral in the Royal Navy.

Secretaries

Post holders included:

Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty

* 1800 – 1801 John Harrison * 1801 – 1802 Benjamin Tucker * 1802 – 1804 George Parker * 1804 – 1805 William Budge * 1805 – 1806

John Deas Thomson Sir John Deas Thomson, KCH, FRS, FLS (c.1763 – 21 February 1838) was a British Navy administrator. He was born in Edinburgh, the son of John Thomson, also a naval administrator. In 1801 he was described as a 'Naval Officer and store-keeper', ...

* 1806 – 1807 Henry Grant * 1807 – 1808 Edward Golding * 1808 – 1809 Captain

Robert Moorsom Admiral Sir Robert Moorsom KCB (8 June 1760 – 14 April 1835) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. His very active service career was especia ...

* 1809 – 1810 Captain Lord Edward O'Brien * 1810 – 1812 Captain Frederick Edgcumbe * 1812 – 1823 Captain Robert William Hay * 1823 – 1827 Captain George Baillie Hamilton * 1827 – 1828 Captain Hon.

Robert Cavendish Spencer Sir Robert Cavendish Spencer (24 October 1791 – 4 November 1830) was an English officer of the Royal Navy. Well connected by birth, he made a naval career, which attracted the sons of the nobility and also of those from naval backgrounds, to s ...

* 1828 – 1830 Captain

Richard Saunders Dundas Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, (11 April 1802 – 3 June 1861) was a Royal Navy officer. As a captain, he took part in the capture of the Bogue forts in January 1841, during the First Opium War. He was appointed to the command of the ...

* 1830 – Captain

John Thomas Briggs Sir John Thomas Briggs (4 June 1781 – 3 February 1865) was an English civil servant who was accountant-general of the Royal Navy. He came from an old Norfolk family, a direct descendant of Dr. William Briggs, and, in a collateral line related t ...

* 1830 – 1831 Captain Edward Stewart * 1831 – 1834 Major George Graham (RM) * 1834 Captain

George Gipps Sir George Gipps (23 December 1790 – 28 February 1847) was the Governor of New South Wales, Governor of the British Colony of New South Wales for eight years, between 1838 and 1846. His governorship oversaw a tumultuous period where the rights ...

* 1834 – Captain John George Cole * 1835 – Captain

* 1835 – Captain Hon. Frederick William Grey * 1835 – 1839 Captain

Henry Tufnell Henry Tufnell (1805 – 15 June 1854) was a British Whig politician. He was born the eldest son of William Tufnell of Chichester (MP for Colchester, 1806) and was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. ...

* 1839 – 1841 Viscount Melgund (acting) * 1841 – 1845 Captain

William Baillie-Hamilton Admiral William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton (6 June 1803 – 1 October 1881) was a Scottish naval commander who served as Second Secretary to the Admiralty from 28 April 1845 to 22 May 1855. Biography A member of the Baillie-Hamilton fam ...

* 1845 – 1846 Captain

* 1846 – Captain Hon. Henry Spencer Law * 1846 – 1848 Captain Henry Eden * 1848 – 1852 Captain Charles Eden * 1852 – 1853 Captain

Frederick Thomas Pelham Rear-Admiral Frederick Thomas Pelham, (2 August 1808 – 21 June 1861) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Naval Lord. Career He was the son of Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester (1756–1826), and Lady Mary Henrietta Ju ...

* 1853 – 1855 Captain Henry Higgins Donatus O'Brien * 1855 – 1857 Captain Thomas George Baring * 1857 – 1858 Captain Hon.

James Robert Drummond Admiral Sir James Robert Drummond (15 September 1812 – 7 October 1895) was a Royal Navy officer who commanded several ships in the Black Sea Fleet during the Crimean War and who commanded the Mediterranean Fleet from 1874 to 1877 before going o ...

* 1858 – 1859 Captain Herbert Harley Murray * 1859 – 1862 Captain John Moore * 1862 – 1863 Captain

Alfred Phillips Ryder Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alfred Phillipps Ryder (27 June 1820 – 30 April 1888) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he undertook the role of transporting Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1st Duke of Palmela, the Portuguese ambassador, back ...

* 1863 – 1866 Captain Robert Hall * 1866 – Captain Frederick Archibald Campbell * 1866 – 1867 Captain John Slaney Pakington * 1867 – 1868 Captain Thomas Brandreth * 1868 – 1870 Captain

Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour Admiral Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, 1st Baron Alcester, (12 April 1821 – 30 March 1895) was a British naval commander. He was commander of the Channel Squadron between 1874 and 1877 and Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet bet ...

* 1870 – 1871 Captain Chandos S. Scudamore Stanhope * 1871 – 1873 Captain

George Tryon Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, (4 January 1832 – 22 June 1893) was a Royal Navy officer who died when his flagship collided with during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon. Early life Tryon was born at Bulwick Park, Northamptonshire, England ...

* 1874 – 1876 Captain Michael Culme-Seymour * 1876 – 1881 Captain William Codrington * 1881 – 1883 Captain John O. Hopkins * 1883 – 1885 Captain Lewis A. Beaumont * 1885 – 1888 Rear-Admiral The Rt. Hon.

Lord Walter Kerr Admiral of the Fleet Lord Walter Talbot Kerr, (28 September 1839 – 12 May 1927) was a Royal Navy officer. After taking part in the Crimean War and then the Indian Mutiny, he supervised the handover of Ulcinj to Montenegro to allow Montenegro an ...

* 1889 – 1892 Rear-Admiral Alfred T. Dale * 1892 – 1894 Captain Richard H. Hamond * 1894 – 1897 Captain Hedworth Lambton * 1897 – 1899 Captain

Wilmot Fawkes Admiral Sir Wilmot Hawksworth Fawkes, (22 December 1846 – 29 May 1926) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. Naval career Fawkes joined the Royal Navy in 1860 and by 1867 had been promoted to lieutenant. He s ...

* 1899 – 1900 Captain Maurice Bourke * 1900 – 1902 Captain

* 1902 – 1905 Captain Hugh Tyrwhitt * 1905 – 1908 Captain

Hugh Evan-Thomas Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas, (27 October 1862 – 30 August 1928) was a British Royal Navy officer. During World War I he commanded the 5th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet, flying his flag in , and fought at the Battle of Jutland on 31 ...

* 1908 – 1910 Captain Charles Madden

Naval Secretaries to the First Lord of the Admiralty

Post holders included * 1911 – 1912 Rear-Admiral

Ernest Troubridge Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Sir Ernest Charles Thomas Troubridge, (15 July 1862 – 28 January 1926) was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the First World War. Troubridge was born into a family with substantial military connecti ...

* 1912 – 1913 Rear-Admiral David Beatty * 1913 – 1914 Rear-Admiral

Dudley de Chair Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Sir Dudley Rawson Stratford de Chair (30 August 1864 – 17 August 1958) was a senior Royal Navy officer and later Governor of New South Wales. Early life and career De Chair was born on 30 August 1864 in Le ...

* Aug – Oct 1914 Rear-Admiral

Horace Hood Rear Admiral Sir Horace Lambert Alexander Hood (2 October 1870 – 31 May 1916) was a Royal Navy admiral of the First World War, whose lengthy and distinguished service saw him engaged in operations around the world, frequently participating in ...

* Oct – Nov 1914 Rear-Admiral

Henry Oliver Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Francis Oliver, (22 January 1865 – 15 October 1965) was a Royal Navy officer. After serving in the Second Boer War as a navigating officer in a cruiser on the Cape of Good Hope ...

* 1914 – 1916 Commodore

Charles de Bartolomé Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...

* 1916 – 1918 Rear-Admiral Allan Everett * 1918 – 1921 Rear-Admiral Sir Rudolph Bentinck * 1921 – 1923 Rear-Admiral

Hugh Watson Admiral Sir Hugh Dudley Richards Watson (20 April 1872 – 22 May 1954) was a Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Naval career Watson joined the Royal Navy in 1885. From 6 May 1902 he served as 1st Lieutenant on the armoured cruiser ...

* 1923 – 1925 Vice-Admiral Michael Hodges * Apr 1925 Vice-Admiral Sir Hubert Brand * 1925 – 1927 Rear-Admiral

Frank Larken Admiral Sir Frank Larken KCB CMG (15 November 1875 – 21 January 1953) was a Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Early life and education Larken was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire Lincoln () is a cathedral city and district in ...

* 1927 – 1929 Rear-Admiral Eric Fullerton * 1929 – 1932 Rear-Admiral

George Chetwode Admiral Sir George Knightley Chetwode, KCB, CBE (10 December 1877 – 11 March 1957) was a Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Naval career Born the son of Sir George Chetwode, 6th Baronet, Chetwode joined the Royal Navy and was ...

* 1932 – 1934 Rear-Admiral

Sidney Meyrick Admiral Sir Sidney Julius Meyrick KCB (28 March 1879 – 18 December 1973) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, America and West Indies Station. Naval career Meyrick joined the Royal Navy in 1893. He served in the ...

* 1934 – 1937 Rear-Admiral

Guy Royle Admiral Sir Guy Charles Cecil Royle, (17 August 1885 – 4 January 1954) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Fifth Sea Lord and First Naval Member of the Royal Australian Navy. Naval career Royle joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in ...

* 1937 – 1939 Rear-Admiral William Whitworth * May – Nov 1939 Rear-Admiral Stuart Bonham Carter * 1939 – 1941 Rear-Admiral Edward Syfret * 1941 – 1942 Rear-Admiral Arthur Peters * 1942 – 1944 Rear-Admiral

Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton Sir Frederick Hew George Dalrymple-Hamilton, KCB (27 March 1890 – 26 December 1974) was a British admiral who served in World War I and World War II. He was captain of HMS ''Rodney'' when it engaged the ''Bismarck'' on 27 May 1941. Naval c ...

* 1944 – 1945 Rear-Admiral

Cecil Harcourt Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt (translated to Chinese as zh , t= 夏慤 , j=haa6 kok3 , labels=no; 11 April 1892 – 19 December 1959) was a British naval officer. He was the ''de facto'' governor of Hong Kong as commander-in-chi ...

* 1945 – 1946 Rear-Admiral Claud Barry * 1948 – 1948 Rear-Admiral

Maurice Mansergh Admiral Sir Maurice James Mansergh KCB CBE (14 October 1896 – 29 September 1966) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. Early life and education Mansergh was born in Ealing, Essex, the second son of civil eng ...

* 1948 – 1950 Rear-Admiral

Peveril William-Powlett Vice-admiral (Royal Navy), Vice Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reiby Wallop William-Powlett, (5 March 1898 – 10 November 1985) was a Royal Navy officer who served as South Atlantic Station, Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station from 1952 t ...

* 1950 – 1952 Rear-Admiral William Davis * 1952 – 1954 Rear-Admiral Richard Onslow * 1954 – 1956 Rear-Admiral

David Luce Admiral Sir John David Luce, (23 January 1906 – 6 January 1971) was a Royal Navy officer. He fought in the Second World War as a submarine commander before taking part in the Dieppe Raid and becoming Chief Staff Officer to the Naval Forces for ...

* 1956 – 1958 Rear-Admiral Alastair Ewing * 1958 – 1960 Rear-Admiral John Hamilton * 1960 – 1962 Rear-Admiral Frank Twiss

Naval Secretaries

Post holders included * 1962 – 1964 Rear-Admiral John Hayes * 1964 – 1966 Rear-Admiral

William O'Brien William O'Brien (2 October 1852 – 25 February 1928) was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of ...

* Jan – Mar 1966 Rear-Admiral Anthony Griffin * 1966 – 1967 Rear-Admiral

Gervaise Cooke Rear Admiral John Gervaise Beresford Cooke CB DSC (19 October 1911 – 30 January 1976) was a Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Naval career Cooke was the son of Justice John Fitzpatrick Cooke and Eleanora Caroline Lucia Macky. ...

* 1967 – 1970 Rear-Admiral

David Dunbar-Nasmith Rear-Admiral David Arthur Dunbar-Nasmith, (21 February 1921 – 15 September 1997) was a former Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Naval career Born the son of Admiral Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, Dunbar-Nasmith joined the Royal Navy as a ...

* 1970 – 1972 Rear-Admiral

Iwan Raikes Sir Iwan Geoffrey Raikes (21 April 1921 – 27 December 2011) was a former Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Naval career Born the son of Admiral Sir Robert Raikes and educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Raikes joined th ...

* 1972 – 1974 Rear-Admiral Gordon Tait * 1974 – 1976 Rear-Admiral John Forbes * 1976 – 1978 Rear-Admiral Peter Buchanan * 1978 – 1980 Rear-Admiral Paul Greening * 1980 – 1983 Rear-Admiral Richard Fitch * 1983 – 1985 Rear-Admiral

Richard Thomas Richard Thomas or Dick Thomas may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Dick Thomas (singer) (1915–2003), American singing cowboy and actor * Richard Thomas (actor) (born 1951), American actor * Richard Thomas (author) (born 1967), America ...

* 1985 – 1987 Rear-Admiral Roger Dimmock * 1987 – 1988 Rear-Admiral Norman King * 1988 – 1990 Rear-Admiral David Dobson * 1990 – 1992 Rear-Admiral Christopher Morgan * 1992 – 1994 Rear-Admiral

Malcolm Rutherford Vice Admiral Malcolm Graham Rutherford (21 March 1941 – 6 June 1997) was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability). Naval career Educated at New College School, Gordonstoun and the Royal Naval C ...

* 1994 – 1996 Rear-Admiral Alan West * 1996 – 1998 Rear-Admiral

Fabian Malbon Vice Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon, (born 1 October 1946) is a retired Royal Navy officer who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 2005 to 2011. Naval career Educated at Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School, Malbon joined the Royal ...

* 1998 – 2002 Rear-Admiral

Jeremy de Halpert Rear Admiral Sir Jeremy Michael de Halpert, (born 9 July 1947) is a former senior Royal Navy officer who served as Naval Secretary from 1998 until his retirement in 2002. Naval career Educated at Canford School and the Britannia Royal Naval C ...

* 2002 – 2004 Rear-Admiral Mark Kerr * 2004 – 2005 Rear-Admiral Peter Wilkinson * 2005 – 2007 Rear-Admiral

Richard Ibbotson Vice admiral (Royal Navy), Vice Admiral Sir Richard Jeffrey Ibbotson, (born 27 June 1954) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet. Naval career Educated at Durham University, Ibbots ...

* 2007 – 2010 Rear-Admiral Charles Montgomery * 2010 – 2012 Rear-Admiral

David Steel David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood (born 31 March 1938) is a retired Scottish politician. Elected as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (UK Parliament constituency), Roxb ...

* 2012 – 2015 Vice-Admiral Jonathan Woodcock * 2015 – 2018 Rear-Admiral Simon Williams, also Flag Officer Maritime Reserves * 2018 – 2020 Rear-Admiral

Michael Bath Rear-Admiral Michael Anthony William Bath (born 1966) is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Naval Secretary. Education He was educated at King Edward VI Five Ways School, the University of Leicester (BSc, 1987) and King's College ...

* 2020 – 2022 Rear-Admiral

Philip Hally Vice Admiral Philip John Hally, is a senior Royal Navy officer who currently serves as Chief of Defence People. Naval career Hally was commissioned in the Royal Navy on 18 September 1991, and was appointed to the Trained Strength in the rank o ...

* 2022 – present Rear-Admiral

History

Secretaries

Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty

Naval Secretaries to the First Lord of the Admiralty

Naval Secretaries

References

Further reading