Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff

The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff was originally directly responsible to the First Sea Lord for non-operational divisions of the Admiralty Naval Staff, and held a position on the Board of Admiralty. The position was created in 1917 as one of two deputies with Board Status to whom the First Sea Lord delegated responsibility for the running of the Naval Staff. The position still exists today on the Admiralty Board which directs the Royal Navy.[1]

Rear-Admiral Alexander L. Duff was appointed the first Assistant Chief of Naval Staff on 31 May 1917. The duties of the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, shared with the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff and the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.[2]

The Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Continued in this capacity until 1941 when the office of the Vice Chief of Naval Staff was created they then supported that flag officer until 1985 when that post was abolished. During World war Two the combined responsibilities of the Assistant Chief Naval Staff were divided up with the creation of new Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff responsible for specific areas such as Home (Waters) and Foreign Commands, Trade, Operations and Air. However the ACNS remained responsible for Policy.

Additional Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff [3]

New Additional Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff were created for Warfare from 1953 to 1968 that was changed to Assistant Chief Naval Staff — Operational Requirements until 1985. The second world war post of Assistant Chief Naval Staff — Operations was revived in 1966 until 1968 then it was changed to Assistant Chief Naval Staff — Operations and Air until 1984.

In April 2012 Rear Admiral Matthew Parr's post as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff was re-designated Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) and the former Chiefs of Staff responsible for Capability, Support, Aviation & Carriers and Personnel were also re-designated Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff.[4]

There are now new additional posts of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation, Amphibious Capability and Carriers)[5] and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines),[6] as well as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy), Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ships), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Support), and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability).[7]

Note: The more Senior Vice Chief of the Naval Staff created in 1941 was abolished in 1985.

Notes: The Naval Staff runs the navy's operations and wartime strategy, and has a number of separate divisions, departments concerned with strategy and tactics, the planning and conduct of operations, and the collection and dissemination of intelligence.

From 1917 to 1945 [8][9]

1. In Operations of War: Deal with all the large questions of naval policy and maritime warfare.
2. Ensure the fighting and sea-going efficiency of the fleet and its organisation.
3. Distribution and Movements of all Ships in Commission and in Reserve.
4. Superintendence of the naval staff.
5. Superintendence of the Hydrographic Department.
6. Administer all naval communications.

Post 1945 [10]

1. The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff's primary aim to: Lead the naval staff effort to drive forward naval policy for the Navy.
2. Act as the First Sea Lord's Chief Executive and on his behalf
3. Direct the implementation of Admiralty Board and Service Executive Committee (Navy Board) policy
4. Provide a high level guidance and prioritisation needed by the Naval Commands to deliver their military outputs.
5. Superintendence of the naval staff.

Post 2010

Individual duties for Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff (Specialized Areas).

• (A. C. N. S.) Aviation and Carriers — Responsible for delivering aviation Force Elements at Readiness (including all Royal Navy fixed and rotary wing assets, and the two Naval Air Stations) in accordance with the Royal Navy plan and arising, contingent events. On behalf of Fleet Commander.[11]
• (A. C. N. S.) Capability — Chairman of the Maritime Capability Board responsible for planning and delivery of the majority of future Maritime capabilities on behalf of the First Sea Lord. He works closely with FD(N), ACNS (Support), ACNS (Aviation and Carriers), and Head Office Di.[12]
• (A. C. N. S.) Personnel — Responsible for the sustainable delivery of sufficient, capable and motivated personnel to the Naval Service in support of Defence Outcomes. The Admiral is accountable for all aspects (non-operational) of Personnel within the Naval Service. As Nav Sec.[13]
• (A. C. N. S.) Support — ACNS(Spt) (supported by ACNS(A&C) for AV/CS) is responsible to the Fleet Commander for the integrated Force Generation of all RN/RM forces and units across all DLODs as directed by the resourced Command Plan and agreed with Operational Commanders.[14]

Assistant Chiefs included:[15]

• Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Ludovic Duff, — (May 1917–August 1919), acting ACNS from 1917- January 1918[16]
• Rear-Admiral James Fergusson, — (August 1919–February 1920)
• Rear-Admiral Sir Ernle Chatfield, — (February 1920–September 1922) [17]
• Rear-Admiral Cyril Fuller, — (September 1922–May 1923) [18]
• Rear-Admiral Arthur Kipling Waistell, — (May 1923–October 1924)
• Rear-Admiral Frederic Charles Dreyer, — (October 1924–April 1927) [19]
• Rear-Admiral Dudley P. R. Pound, — (April 1927–April 1929) [20]
• Rear-Admiral Wilfred Tomkinson, — (April 1929–May 1931)
• Rear-Admiral John Knowles Im Thurn, — (May 1931–February 1933) [21]
• Rear-Admiral Sidney R. Bailey, — (February 1933–July 1934)
• Rear-Admiral Charles Kennedy-Purvis, — (July 1934–October 1936)
• Rear-Admiral John H. D. Cunningham, — (October 1936-August 1937)
• Rear-Admiral Lancelot E. Holland, — (August 1937–January 1939)
• Rear-Admiral Harold M. Burrough, — (January 1939–September 1940) [22]

Note: From 1940-1946 split into separate specific areas of responsibility see: ACNS Home, Foreign, U-Boat and Trade, Weapons, Air and Operations

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief Naval Staff

• Rear-Admiral Geoffrey N. Oliver, — (December 1946–August 1948)
• Rear-Admiral Ralph A. B. Edwards, — (August 1948–February 1951)
• Rear-Admiral Eric G. A. Clifford, — (February 1951–June 1952)
• Rear-Admiral Robert Elkins, — (June 1952–August 1954)
• Rear-Admiral Michael G. Goodenough, — (August 1954-January 1956)
• Rear-Admiral Royston H. Wright, — (January 1956–February 1958)
• Rear-Admiral Desmond P. Dreyer, — (February 1958–November 1959)
• Rear-Admiral Antony B. Cole, — (November 1959–February 1962)
• Rear-Admiral Peter Hill-Norton, — (February 1962-March 1964)
• Rear-Admiral Michael P. Pollock, — (March 1964–April 1966)

Note:Changed to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff - Policy until 1984 [23]

• Rear-Admiral John Adams, — (April 1966–January 1968)
• Rear-Admiral Terence Lewin, — (January 1968–June 1969)
• Rear-Admiral Ian Easton, — (June 1969–April 1971)
• Rear-Admiral Henry C. Leach, — (April 1971–November 1973)
• Rear-Admiral Peter E.C. Berger, — (November 1973–December 1975)
• Rear-Admiral Michael L. Stacey, — (December 1975–July 1976)
• Rear-Admiral Bryan J. Straker, — (July 1976–June 1978)
• Rear-Admiral James E.C. Kennon, — (June 1978–December 1979)
• Rear-Admiral Derek R. Reffell, — (December 1979–December 1981)
• Rear-Admiral Geoffrey T.J.O. Dalton, — (December 1981–October 1984)

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff

• Rear-Admiral Jeremy Black, — (October 1984–July 1986)
• Rear-Admiral Michael Livesay, — (July 1986–December 1988)
• Rear-Admiral Hugo White, – (December 1988–February 1991)
• Rear-Admiral Peter C. Abbott, — (February 1991–September 1993)
• Rear-Admiral John R. Brigstocke, — (September 1993–March 1995)
• Rear-Admiral Jeremy J. Blackman, – (March 1995–May 1997)
• Rear-Admiral Jonathan Band, — (May 1997–December 1999) [24]
• Rear-Admiral James M. Burnell-Nugent, — (December 1999–April 2001)
• Rear-Admiral Timothy P. McClement, —(April 2001–May 2003)
• Rear-Admiral Adrian J. Johns:, — (May 2003–July 2005)
• Rear-Admiral Alan M. Massey, — (July 2005–February 2008)
• Rear-Admiral Robert G. Cooling, — (February 2008–June 2009)
• Rear-Admiral Philip A. Jones, — (June 2009–December 2011)

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff -Policy

On behalf of the First Sea Lord and through the Admiralty and Navy Boards, ACNS (Pol) is responsible for the direction and development of strategic policy and strategy for the Royal Navy.[25]

• Rear-Admiral Matthew J. Parr — (January 2012–May 2013)
• Rear-Admiral Clive Johnstone — (May 2013–September 2015)
• Rear-Admiral Nicholas W. Hine — (September 2015–January 2019)[26]
• Major-General Gwyn Jenkins (January 2019–September 2020)[27]
• Rear-Admiral Iain S. Lower (September 2020–Present)[28]

Staff officers would normally be supported by a Naval Assistant and a Personal Secretary usually they would be either a Lieutenant commander, Commander or a Captain.[29]

• Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
• Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
• First Sea Lord
• Second Sea Lord
• Third Sea Lord
• Fourth Sea Lord
• Fifth Sea Lord

Primary source for this article is by Harley Simon, Lovell Tony, (2017), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, dreadnoughtproject.org, http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org.

• http://www.gulabin.com/Royal Navy - Senior Appointments