The Naval Secretary is the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

officer who advises the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on naval officer appointing (and General Officers). Their counterpart in the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...

is the Military Secretary. The

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

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, Traf ...

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 R ...

and the title of Flag Officer, Maritime Reserves. In this capacity the incumbent is responsible for advising the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff 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 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 Captain John Harrison * 1801 – 1802 Captain Benjamin Tucker * 1802 – 1804 Captain George Parker * 1804 – 1805 Captain William Budge * 1805 – 1806 Captain John Deas Thomson * 1806 – 1807 Captain Henry Grant * 1807 – 1808 Captain 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 especial ...

* 1809 – 1810 Captain Lord Edward O'Brien * 1810 – 1812 Captain Frederick Edgcumbe * 1812 – 1823 Captain

Robert William Hay Robert William Hay (1786–1861) was a British public official. Biography Early life Robert William Hay was born in 1786 in Westminster, London, England.

* 1823 – 1827 Captain George Baillie Hamilton * 1827 – 1828 Captain Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer * 1828 – 1830 Captain Richard Saunders Dundas * 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 the British colony of New South Wales for eight years, between 1838 and 1846. His governorship oversaw a tumultuous period where the rights to land were bitterly conte ...

* 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 on the Arctic Council when it was searching for Sir John Franklin. Biography A member of the Baillie-Hamilton family h ...

* 1845 – 1846 Captain Richard Saunders Dundas * 1846 – Captain Hon. Henry Spencer Law * 1846 – 1848 Captain

Henry Eden Admiral Henry Eden (1798 – 30 January 1888) was a senior British Royal Navy officer who went on to be Second Naval Lord. Naval career He was born the fourth son of Thomas Eden of Wimbledon, Surrey, the Deputy-Auditor of Greenwich Hospital. ...

* 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, and Lady Mary Henrietta Juliana Osborne ...

* 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 Sir Herbert Harley Murray KCB (4 November 1829 – 11 March 1904) was a Scottish colonial governor. A member of Clan Murray headed by the Duke of Atholl, he was born in Bromley, the son of the Right Reverend George Murray, Bishop of Roch ...

* 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, bac ...

* 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-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet between 1874 and 1877 and of the Mediterranean Fleet between 1880 and ...

* 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 British admiral who died when his flagship HMS ''Victoria'' collided with HMS ''Camperdown'' during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon. Early life Tryon was born at Bulw ...

* 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 * 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 Captain (Royal Navy), Captain Maurice Archibald Bourke (22 December 1853 – 16 September 1900) was a Royal Navy officer who became Naval Secretary. Naval career Born the son of Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo, Bourke joined the Royal Navy in 1 ...

* 1900 – 1902 Captain

* 1902 – 1905 Captain Hugh Tyrwhitt * 1905 – 1908 Captain Hugh Evan-Thomas * 1908 – 1910 Captain Charles Madden

Naval Secretaries to the First Lord of the Admiralty

Post holders included * 1911 – 1912 Rear-Admiral Ernest Troubridge * 1912 – 1913 Rear-Admiral David Beatty * 1913 – 1914 Rear-Admiral Dudley de Chair * 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 i ...

* Oct – Nov 1914 Rear-Admiral Henry Oliver * 1914 – 1916 Commodore Charles de Bartolomé * 1916 – 1918 Rear-Admiral

Allan Everett Allan Everett (12 April 1913 – 22 October 2003) was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL). A hard running rebound defender, Everett was used mostly in the back pockets. He c ...

* 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 * 1927 – 1929 Rear-Admiral Eric Fullerton * 1929 – 1932 Rear-Admiral George Chetwode * 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 Guy or GUY may refer to: Personal names * Guy (given name) * Guy (surname) * That Guy (...), the New Zealand street performer Leigh Hart Places * Guy, Alberta, a Canadian hamlet * Guy, Arkansas, US, a city * Guy, Indiana, US, an unincor ...

* 1937 – 1939 Rear-Admiral

William Whitworth William Whitworth may refer to: * Sir William Whitworth (Royal Navy officer) (1884–1973) * William Whitworth (journalist) (born 1937), American journalist and editor * William Whitworth (politician) (1813–1886), British cotton manufacturer and ...

* May – Nov 1939 Rear-Admiral

Stuart Bonham Carter Vice Admiral Sir Stuart Sumner Bonham Carter, (9 July 1889 – 5 September 1972) was an officer in the Royal Navy who served in both the First and Second World Wars. Naval career Born the younger son of Lothian Bonham-Carter and Emily Maud ...

* 1939 – 1941 Rear-Admiral Edward Syfret * 1941 – 1942 Rear-Admiral Arthur Peters * 1942 – 1944 Rear-Admiral

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

* 1944 – 1945 Rear-Admiral Cecil Harcourt * 1945 – 1946 Rear-Admiral Claud Barry * 1948 – 1948 Rear-Admiral Maurice Mansergh * 1948 – 1950 Rear-Admiral

Peveril William-Powlett Vice Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reiby Wallop William-Powlett, (5 March 1898 – 10 November 1985) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic Station from 1952 to 1954. Naval career William-Powlett attended Co ...

* 1950 – 1952 Rear-Admiral William Davis * 1952 – 1954 Rear-Admiral Richard Onslow * 1954 – 1956 Rear-Admiral David Luce * 1956 – 1958 Rear-Admiral Alastair Ewing * 1958 – 1960 Rear-Admiral John Hamilton * 1960 – 1962 Rear-Admiral

Frank Twiss Admiral Sir Frank Roddam Twiss, (7 July 1910 – 27 January 1994) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel from 1967 to 1970. He went on to serve as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from 19 ...

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 ...

* 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 * 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 Admiral Sir Richard George Alison Fitch, (2 June 1929 – 15 February 1994) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel from 1986 to 1988. Naval career Educated at Royal Naval College Dartmouth, F ...

* 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), American ...

* 1985 – 1987 Rear-Admiral

Roger Dimmock Rear Admiral Roger Charles Dimmock, (27 May 1935 – 6 May 2014) was a Royal Navy officer who served as Naval Secretary from 1985 to 1987. Naval career Educated at Price's School, Dimmock joined the Royal Navy in 1953 and specialised in naval a ...

* 1987 – 1988 Rear-Admiral Norman King * 1988 – 1990 Rear-Admiral David Dobson * 1990 – 1992 Rear-Admiral Christopher Morgan * 1992 – 1994 Rear-Admiral Malcolm Rutherford * 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 Roya ...

* 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 Co ...

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

Richard Ibbotson Vice Admiral Sir Richard Jeffrey Ibbotson, (born 27 June 1954) is a former Royal Navy officer who served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet. Naval career Educated at Durham University, Ibbotson joined the Royal Navy in 1975 and specialized in ...

* 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 British politician. Elected as Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles, followed by Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale, he served as the final leade ...

* 2012 – 2015 Vice-Admiral Jonathan Woodcock * 2015 – 2018 Rear-Admiral Simon Williams, also Flag Officer Maritime Reserves * 2018 – 2020 Rear-Admiral Michael Bath * 2020 – 2022 Rear-Admiral Philip Hally * 2022 – present Rear-Admiral Jude Terry

References

Sources

* 'Private Secretary to First Lord and Lord High Admiral 1800–70', in Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4, Admiralty Officials 1660–1870, ed. J C Sainty (London, 1975), pp. 65–66. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/office-holders/vol4/pp65-66 ccessed 29 January 2017 * Hamilton, C. I. (2003). "Expanding Naval Powers: Admiralty Private Secretaries and Private Offices, 1800–1945". War in History 10 (2): pp. 125–156. * Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division (1929). The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. Its Work and Development. B.R. 1845 (late C.B. 3013). Copy at The National Archives. ADM 234/434. * Sainty, J. C. (1975). Admiralty Officials, 1660–1870. London: The Athlone Press. .

External links

*http://www.british-history.ac.uk/search/series/office-holders {{Naval Service (British), state=collapsed Royal Navy appointments