Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff is a senior appointment in the Royal Navy usually a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7.
History
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.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.
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 and Foreign Commands, Trade, Operations and Air. However the ACNS remained responsible for Policy.
Additional Assistant Chiefs of Naval Staff
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 and the former Chiefs of Staff responsible for Capability, Support, Aviation & Carriers and Personnel were also re-designated Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff.
There are now new additional posts of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, as well as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff.
Note: The more Senior Vice Chief of the Naval Staff created in 1941 was abolished in 1985.
Duties
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
- In Operations of War: Deal with all the large questions of naval policy and maritime warfare.
- Ensure the fighting and sea-going efficiency of the fleet and its organisation.
- Distribution and Movements of all Ships in Commission and in Reserve.
- Superintendence of the naval staff.
- Superintendence of the Hydrographic Department.
- Administer all naval communications.
- The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff's primary aim to: Lead the naval staff effort to drive forward naval policy for the Navy.
- Act as the First Sea Lord's Chief Executive and on his behalf
- Direct the implementation of Admiralty Board and Service Executive Committee policy
- Provide a high level guidance and prioritisation needed by the Naval Commands to deliver their military outputs.
- Superintendence of the naval staff.
Individual duties for Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff.
- Aviation and Carriers — Responsible for delivering aviation Force Elements at Readiness in accordance with the Royal Navy plan and arising, contingent events. On behalf of Fleet Commander.
- 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, ACNS, ACNS, and Head Office Di.
- 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 of Personnel within the Naval Service. As Nav Sec.
- Support — ACNS 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.
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
- Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Ludovic Duff, —, acting ACNS from 1917- January 1918
- Rear-Admiral James Fergusson, —
- Rear-Admiral Sir Ernle Chatfield, —
- Rear-Admiral Cyril Fuller, —
- Rear-Admiral Arthur Kipling Waistell, —
- Rear-Admiral Frederic Charles Dreyer, —
- Rear-Admiral Dudley P. R. Pound, —
- Rear-Admiral Wilfred Tomkinson, —
- Rear-Admiral John Knowles Im Thurn, —
- Rear-Admiral Sidney R. Bailey, —
- Rear-Admiral Charles Kennedy-Purvis, —
- Rear-Admiral John H. D. Cunningham, —
- Rear-Admiral Lancelot E. Holland, —
- Rear-Admiral Harold M. Burrough, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Home)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Foreign)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (U boat and Trade)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Weapons)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations)
Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief Naval StaffAssistant Chief of the Naval Staff
- Rear-Admiral Geoffrey N. Oliver, —
- Rear-Admiral Ralph A. B. Edwards, —
- Rear-Admiral Eric G. A. Clifford, —
- Rear-Admiral Robert Elkins, —
- Rear-Admiral Michael G. Goodenough, —
- Rear-Admiral Royston H. Wright, —
- Rear-Admiral Desmond P. Dreyer, —
- Rear-Admiral Antony B. Cole, —
- Rear-Admiral Peter Hill-Norton, —
- Rear-Admiral Michael P. Pollock, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
- Rear-Admiral John Adams, —
- Rear-Admiral Terence Lewin, —
- Rear-Admiral Ian Easton, —
- Rear-Admiral Henry C. Leach, —
- Rear-Admiral Peter E.C. Berger, —
- Rear-Admiral Michael L. Stacey, —
- Rear-Admiral Bryan J. Straker, —
- Rear-Admiral James E.C. Kennon, —
- Rear-Admiral Derek R. Reffell, —
- Rear-Admiral Geoffrey T.J.O. Dalton, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
- Rear-Admiral Jeremy Black, —
- Rear-Admiral Michael Livesay, —
- Rear-Admiral Hugo White, –
- Rear-Admiral Peter C. Abbott, —
- Rear-Admiral John R. Brigstocke, —
- Rear-Admiral Jeremy J. Blackman, –
- Rear-Admiral Jonathan Band, —
- Rear-Admiral James M. Burnell-Nugent, —
- Rear-Admiral Timothy P. McClement, —
- Rear-Admiral Adrian J. Johns:, —
- Rear-Admiral Alan M. Massey, —
- Rear-Admiral Robert G. Cooling, —
- Rear-Admiral Philip A. Jones, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)
On behalf of the First Sea Lord and through the Admiralty and Navy Boards, ACNS is responsible for the direction and development of strategic policy and strategy for the Royal Navy.- Rear-Admiral Matthew J. Parr —
- Rear-Admiral Clive Johnstone —
- Rear-Admiral Nicholas W. Hine —
- Major-General Gwyn Jenkins
Naval Assistants to the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff
Additional Assistant Chiefs of the Naval Staff (specialized areas)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Warfare)
- Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Barnard, October 1952-January 1953
- Rear-Admiral Arthur Pedder, —
- Rear-Admiral Rear-Admiral William John Yendell, —
- Rear-Admiral Henry C. N. Rolfe, —
- Rear-Admiral Maurice J. Ross, —
- Rear-Admiral John G. B. Cooke, —
- Rear-Admiral Anthony Griffin, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations and Air)
- Rear-Admiral Leslie Derek Empson, —
- Rear-Admiral Douglas G. Parker, —
- Rear-Admiral Peter Austin, —
- Rear-Admiral James W. Dunbar Cook, —
- Rear-Admiral C. R. Peter Branson, —
- Rear-Admiral John Gerard-Pearse, —
- Rear-Admiral Martin La Touche-Wemyss, —
- Rear-Admiral Anthony Whetstone, —
- Rear-Admiral Linley Eric Middleton, —
- Rear-Admiral Kenneth A. Snow, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operational Requirements)
- Rear-Admiral J. Rae McKaig, —
- Rear-Admiral Philip Higham, —
- Rear-Admiral James Jungius, —
- Rear-Admiral Alan G. Watson, —
- Rear-Admiral Stephen Berthon, —
- Rear-Admiral Simon A. C. Cassels, —
- Rear-Admiral Peter Stanford, —
- Rear-Admiral Geoffrey G. W. Marsh, —
- Rear-Admiral John B. Kerr, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Personnel)
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships and Submarines)
- Rear-Admiral Alexander J. Burton, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships)
Responsible for ensuring that DD/FF, SSN, SSBN, MW and HM vessels are generated fit for task through integration of all the Lines of Development.- Rear Admiral Christopher R S Gardner,
- Rear Admiral Jim Higham
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Submarines)
- Rear-Admiral John S. Weale, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Support)
- Rear-Admiral Peter Hudson, —
- Rear-Admiral Ian Jess, —
- Rear-Admiral Richard Stokes, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)
- Rear-Admiral Benjamin John Key, —
- Rear-Admiral John R.H. Clink, —
- Rear-Admiral William J. Warrender, —
Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (People & Transformation)
- Rear-Admiral Philip Hally, —
Attribution