Office of the Naval Secretary | |
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![]() Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Member of | Navy Command |
Reports to | First Sea Lord |
Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence |
Appointer | Monarch of the United Kingdom |
Term length | Not fixed (typically 1–3 years) |
Inaugural holder | Captain John Harrison |
Formation | 1800-current |
Website | royalnavy.mod.uk |
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy officer who advises the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on naval officer appointing (and General Officers). [1]
Their counterpart in the British Army is the Military Secretary. The Royal Air Force equivalent is the Air Secretary. The Director People and Training has taken over the role, combining the responsibilities of Flag Officer Sea Training. [2]
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 [3] and remained so styled until 1911. In 1912 it was re-titled Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty. [4]
When the Admiralty 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). [5] In 2015 further additional responsibilities were assumed for the Royal Naval Reserve and the title of Flag Officer, Maritime Reserves. [6]
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. [7] 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. [8]
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. [9]
Post holders included: [10]
Post holders included
Post holders included