First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff | |
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![]() Ensign of the British Armed Forces | |
![]() White Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
since 8 November 2021 | |
Ministry of Defence Royal Navy | |
Type | Naval officer |
Status | Military branch chief |
Abbreviation | 1SL/CNS |
Member of | Defence Council Admiralty Board Chiefs of Staff Committee |
Reports to | Chief of the Defence Staff |
Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence |
Appointer | The Monarch On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council |
Term length | Not fixed typically 3–4 years |
Formation | Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771) First Naval Lord (1771–1904) First Sea Lord (from 1904) |
First holder | Admiral Arthur Herbert (as Senior Naval Lord) Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher (as First Sea Lord) |
Deputy | Deputy First Sea Lord (1917-1919, 1942-1946) Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (1941–1946) Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff |
Website | Official Website |
The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) is a statutory position in the British Armed Forces usually held by an admiral. As the highest-ranking officer to serve in the Royal Navy, the chief is the principal military advisor on matters pertaining to the navy and a deputy to the Secretary of State for Defence. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council, the prime minister and the monarch. The First Sea Lord is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty of the Royal Navy unless the Chief of the Defence Staff is a naval officer. Admiral Ben Key was appointed First Sea Lord in November 2021.[1]
Originally titled the "Senior Naval Lord to the Board of Admiralty" when the post was created in 1689,[2] the office was re-styled First Naval Lord in 1771.[3] The concept of a professional "First Naval Lord" was introduced in 1805,[4] and the title of the office was changed to First Sea Lord on the appointment of Sir John "Jackie" Fisher in 1904. Since 1923, the First Sea Lord has been a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee; he now sits on the Defence Council and the Admiralty Board.[5]
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