British Royal Navy senior admiral
Office of the Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Ensign of the Royal Navy
Incumbent since 12 January 2022
Ministry of Defence Member of Admiralty Board Reports to First Sea Lord Nominator Secretary of State for Defence Appointer Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council Term length Not fixed (typically 4–5 years) Inaugural holder Rear Admiral George Dundas Formation Second Naval Lord, 1830–1904
The Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (formerly Second Sea Lord ) is deputy to the First Sea Lord and the second highest-ranking officer to currently serve in the Royal Navy and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments. Originally titled Second Naval Lord in 1830, the post was restyled Second Sea Lord in 1904. They are based at Navy Command, Headquarters.
History In 1805, for the first time, specific functions were assigned to each of the 'Naval' Lords, who were described as 'Professional' Lords, leaving to the 'Civil' Lords the routine business of signing documents.[1] Chief of Naval Personnel was responsible for handling all personnel matters for the Royal Navy. In 1917 the title was changed to the Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel by an order in council dated 23 October.[2]
The posts of Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME) were amalgamated in 1994 in the reductions of the British Armed Forces following the end of the Cold War.[3] [4]
2SL is based in Portsmouth in a combined headquarters with the Fleet Commander on Whale Island.[5] Victory , the world's oldest commissioned warship, which is preserved in dry dock in Portsmouth.[6] Victory as a flagship came from his position as CINCNAVHOME, who in turn acquired it from the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth. Since October 2012, distinct Commander-in-Chief posts have been discontinued and full command responsibility is vested in the First Sea Lord , who now flies his flag from Victory ; this change formed part of the Levene reforms which were implemented at that time.[7]
In 2016 the post was retitled Second Sea Lord & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and defined as "responsible for the delivery of the Naval Service’s current and future personnel, equipment and infrastructure".[8]
Second Naval Lords, 1830–1904 Second Naval Lords include:[9]
Rear Admiral George Dundas, 1830–1834 Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker , 1834Vice-Admiral Sir John Beresford , 1835–1841Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker , 1835–1841Rear Admiral Sir Edward Troubridge , 1841Vice-Admiral Sir William Gage , 1841–1846Vice-Admiral Sir James Dundas , 1846–1847Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Prescott , 1847Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley , 1847–1852Vice-Admiral Sir Houston Stewart , 1852Vice-Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby , 1852–1853Vice-Admiral Sir Maurice Berkeley , 1853–1854Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas , 1854–1855Vice-Admiral Henry Eden , 1855–1857Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas , 1857Vice-Admiral Henry Eden , 1857–1858Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Dundas , 1858–1859Rear Admiral Frederick Pelham , 1859–1861Vice Admiral Sir Charles Eden, 1861–1866 Vice-Admiral Sir Sydney Dacres , 1866–1868Vacant , 1868–1872Vice Admiral Sir John Tarleton, 1872–1874 Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hornby , 1874–1877Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hood 1877–1879Admiral The Earl of Clanwilliam , 1879–1880Admiral Lord John Hay, 1880–1883 Admiral Lord Alcester , 1883–1885Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins , 1885–1888Vice-Admiral Sir Vesey Hamilton , 1888–1889Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax, 1889–1892 Admiral Sir Frederick Richards , 1892–1893Admiral Lord Walter Kerr , 1893–1895Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford , 1895–1899Admiral Lord Walter Kerr , 1899Vice-Admiral Archibald Douglas , 1899–1902Admiral Sir John Fisher , 1902–1903Second Sea Lords, 1904–1917 Second Sea Lords include:[9]
Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel 1917 to 1995 Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss , 1917Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Heath , 1917–1919Admiral Sir Montague Browning , 1919–1920Admiral Sir Henry Oliver , 1920–1924Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Culme-Seymour , 1924–1925Vice-Admiral Sir Hubert Brand , 1925–1927Admiral Sir Michael Hodges, 1927–1930 Admiral Sir Cyril Fuller , 1930–1932Admiral Sir Dudley Pound , 1932–1935Admiral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith , 1935–1938Admiral Sir Charles Little, 1938–1941 Admiral Sir William Whitworth, 1941–1944 Admiral Sir Algernon Willis , 1944–1946Admiral Sir Arthur Power , 1946–1948Admiral Sir Cecil Harcourt , 1948–1950Admiral Sir Alexander Madden , 1950–1953Admiral Sir Guy Russell , 1953–1955Admiral Sir Charles Lambe , 1955–1957Vice-Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin , 1957–1959Admiral Sir St John Tyrwhitt , 1959–1961Admiral Sir Royston Wright , 1961–1965Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer , 1965–1967Admiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton , 1967Admiral Sir Frank Twiss , 1967–1970Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Lewis, 1970–1971 Admiral Sir Derek Empson , 1971–1974Admiral Sir David Williams, 1974–1977 Admiral Sir Gordon Tait, 1977–1979 Admiral Sir Desmond Cassidi , 1979–1982Admiral Sir Simon Cassels , 1982–1986Admiral Sir Richard Fitch , 1986–1988Admiral Sir Brian Brown, 1988–1991 Admiral Sir Michael Livesay , 1991–1992Admiral Sir Michael Layard , 1992–1995Second Sea Lords and Commanders-in-Chief Naval Home Command, 1995–2012 From 1995 to 2012 the Second Sea Lord was (as Commander-in-Chief) based in Admiralty House within HMNB Portsmouth (note the Vice-Admiral's flag in this 2006 photo). Second Sea Lords and Commanders-in-Chief include:[9]
Second Sea Lords and Chiefs of Naval Personnel and Training, 2012–2015 Rank Name Image In office Vice Admiral Sir Charles Montgomery 2012 (and see above) Vice Admiral Sir David Steel 2012–2015
Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, 2015–present See: Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff
Departments under the office As of September 2020: [11] [12]
Current Former Included:[15] [16] [17] [18]
Admiralty Interview Board Naval Careers Service Naval Education Service Office of the Medical Director-General (Naval) Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Naval Hospital Office the Director Naval Nursing Service Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Royal Naval Reserve Royal Marines Reserve Department of the Director Combined Operations Personnel Department of the Director Naval Education Department of the Engineer Rear Admiral Assistant Department of the Paymaster Director General Department of the Director General Medical Services Department of the Director General Supply & Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Air Personnel Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Director Physical Training & Sport Department of the Director of Personnel Services Department of the Director Welfare Conditions Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director Recruiting Department of the Director Service Conditions Department of the Director of Training Directorate General Training , (1960–1969)Directorate-General Naval Manpower and Training (1972–1994)Department of the Engineer-in-chief, as regards personnel Medical Director-General of the Navy Dental Examining Board Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Naval Intelligence Department , as regards mobilisation of the fleetNaval Mobilisation Department , as regards personnelOffice of the Admiral Commanding, Coastguard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding Reserves , as regards personnelOffice of the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Reserves , as regards personnelOffice of the Adviser on Education Office of the Chief of Staff, Reserves Office of the Controller of the Coastguard Office of the Deputy Adjutant General Royal Marines Office of the Adjutant General Royal Marines Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet , as regards naval schoolsOffice of the Engineer Rear Admiral for Personnel Duties Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Statistics Department See also References ^ "Sainty, JC, Lord High Admiral and Commissioners of the Admiralty 1660–1870', Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 4: Admiralty Officials 1660–1870 (1975), pp. 18–31". Retrieved 4 September 2009 . ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony. "Second Sea Lord – The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org . Harley and Lovell, 5 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018 . ^ Admiral Sir Michael Layard, KCB, CBE ^ History in Portsmouth Archived 27 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine ^ Royal Navy Command and Organisation ^ Oscar Makes 99th Commanding Officer for HMS Victory ^ Levene of Portsoken, Lord (1 June 2011). "An independent report into the structure and management of the Ministry of Defence" (PDF) . Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 15 June 2022 . ^ "Second Sea Lord". Royal Navy . Retrieved 17 June 2016 . ^ a b c Senior Royal Navy Appointments Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine ^ "Government, People, Sir Charles Montgomery, Biography, Career". gov.uk . H.M. Government, UK. Retrieved 19 February 2017 . ^ "The Navy Directory 2019" (PDF) . royalnavy.mod.uk . Royal Navy. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020 . ^ a b c d e "How Defence Works Version 6.0 Sep2020" (PDF) . assets.publishing.service.gov.uk . UK MOD. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020 . page 28 ^ a b "Freedom of Information Response" (PDF) . Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 17 December 2020 . ^ "Director Develop or Director Development in Navy Command" (PDF) . whatdotheyknow.com. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020 . n response toyour request,I can advise that the position of Director Develop is held by Rear Admiral Andrew Burns. ^ Archives, The National. "Records of the Surveyor of the Navy and successors". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . National Archives, 1620–1979. Retrieved 2 June 2017 . ^ Hamilton, Sir Vesey. "Naval Administration – Part II. – Chapter II". pdavis.nl . Sir Vesey Hamilton, 1896. Retrieved 2 June 2017 . ^ Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2017 . ^ Hamilton, C. I. (2011). The Making of the Modern Admiralty: British Naval Policy-Making, 1805–1927 . Cambridge University Press. p. 292. ISBN 9781139496544 . Chairman Civilian Minister of State for the Armed Forces Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans Minister for Reserves Under Secretary of State & the Lords Spokesman on Defence Finance Director (Navy) Naval
Navy Board
Naval Civilian Finance Director (Navy) Non Executive Director
Navy Command (Ministry of Defence)
oversight Defence Board − Chief of the Defence Staff Group Permanent Under Secretary (PUS) Group TLB holder TLB group Fleet maritime forces amphibious forces maritime operations Commander Maritime Operations– naval training regional forces Commander Regional Forces and Naval Regional Commander Eastern England Naval Regional Commander Wales & Western England Naval Regional Commander Northern England Naval Regional Commander Scotland & Northern Ireland navy personnel naval personnel Director People & Training and Naval Secretary Commodore Maritime Reserves –Assistant Chief of Staff Medical/Head of the Royal Naval Medical Service /Medical Director General (Navy) Naval Assistant, ACNS (Personnel) (Naval Secretary) Deputy Director People Delivery Commodore Naval Legal Services Commander Regional Forces Head of Strategic Engagement, Naval Staff naval capability Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability)– Assistant Chief of Staff Warfare Assistant Chief of Staff Maritime Capability Chief Technology Officer aviation and carriers Deputy Director Naval Aviation – submarines surface ships Commodore RFA and Deputy Director Royal Navy Afloat Support support policy Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy)– finance Finance Director (Navy)– Assistant Chief of Staff Resources and Plans Command Secretary (Command Secretariat) Navy Safety Director
Leadership Components
Royal Navy Royal Marines Royal Naval Reserve HMS Calliope HMS Cambria HMS Ceres HMS Dalriada HMS Eaglet HMS Ferret HMS Flying Fox HMS Forward HMS Hibernia HMS King Alfred HMS President HMS Scotia HMS Sherwood HMS Vivid HMS Wildfire Special Forces
History Operating Fleet Ships Administration Senior Personnel Equipment Former category
Department of Admiralty
Direction and control Boards and offices under Direction of Secretariat and staff under Operational planning, policy Divisions and sections Administrative Planning Department Administrative Planning Division Air Division Anti-Submarine Division Anti-Submarine and Warfare Division Anti-U-boat Division Air Warfare Division Air Warfare and Fly Training Division Air Warfare and Training Division Combined Operations Division Communications Division Convoy Section Directorate of Defence Plans (Navy) Economic Warfare Division Gunnery and Anti-Aircraft Warfare Division Gunnery Division Gunnery and Torpedo Division Historical Section Local Defence Division Division Mercantile Movements Division Naval Air Division Naval Air Organisation and Training Division Naval Artillery and Torpedoes Division Navigation and Direction Division Navigation Division Minesweeping Division Mobilisation Division Naval Intelligence Division Operations Division Operations Division (Home) Operations Division (Foreign) Operations Division (Mining) Plans Division Plans Division (Q) Press Division Signal Division Signal Section Standardisation Division Tactical Division Tactical and Weapons Policy Division Torpedo Division Torpedo, Anti-Submarine and Minewarfare Division Trade Division Trade and Operations Division Training and Staff Duties Division Tactical and Staff Duties Division Undersurface Warfare Division Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments Admiralty Area Cash Offices Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service Admiralty Compass Observatory Admiralty Constabulary Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experimental Station Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Gunnery Establishment Admiralty Interview Board Admiralty Labour Department Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment Admiralty Materials Laboratory Admiralty Mine Design Department Admiralty Mining Establishment Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Regional Offices Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Signal Establishment Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Surveying Service Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment Architectural and Engineering Works Department Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department Air Department Air Materiel Department Air Personnel Department Amphibious Warfare Headquarters Armament Supply Department Board of Invention and Research Board of Longitude Boom Defence Department Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department Britannia Royal Naval College Chemical Board Chemical Department Civil Catering Department Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department Coastguard and Reserves Branch Combined Operations Headquarters Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department Compass Department Contract and Purchase Department Council of Naval Education Dental Examining Board Department of Radio Equipment Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord Department of Naval Education Operational Research Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments Department of Physical Research Department of Physical Training & Sports Department of Radio Equipment Department of Research Programmes and Planning Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation Department of the Admiral of the Training Service Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance Department of the Chief of Naval Information Department of the Chief Scientist Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services Department of the Controller of the Navy Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Controller for Navy Pay Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships Department of the Director-General Aircraft Department of the Director-General of Manpower Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Director of Dockyards Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs Department of the Director of Naval Construction Department of the Director of Naval Equipment Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service Department of the Director of Personal Services Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department of the Director of Transports Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs Department of the Director of Warship Production Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training Department of the Engineer in Chief Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Department of the Physician of the Navy Department of the Physician General of the Navy Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training) Directorate General Training Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department Dockyards Branch Dockyard Expense Accounts Department Dockyard Schools Electrical Engineering Department Engineer Branch Engineering Department Experimental Department Fire Control Group Greenwich Hospital Department Inspector of Telegraphs Inspector of Repairs Joint Warfare Establishment Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Historical Section Hydrographic Department Marine Department Marine Pay Department Materials and Priority Department Medical Consultative Board Medical Department Medical Examining Board Movements Department Nautical Almanac Office Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department Naval Engineering College Naval Equipment Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Construction Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Medical Service Naval Law Division Naval Manpower Department Naval Mobilisation Department Naval Ordnance Department Naval Ordnance Inspection Department Naval Ordnance Stores Department Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department Naval Publicity Department Naval Regional Offices Naval Reserve Department Naval Security Department Naval Stores Department Naval Training Department Naval Works Department Navy, Army and Air Force Institute Navy and Army Canteen Board Navy Works Department Navigation Department Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Admiralty Chemist Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty Office of the Assistant Controller Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development Office of the Clerk of the Journals Office of the Chief Polaris Executive Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy Office of the Deputy Controller Production Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings Office of the Keeper of Records Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages Office of the Vice Controller Air Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy Organisation and Methods Department Packet Service Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Royal Flying Corps Royal Marine Police Royal Marines Office Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops Royal Naval Air Service Royal Naval Air Stations Royal Naval Armaments Depot Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Royal Naval Cordite Factories Royal Naval Propellant Factory Royal Naval College Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich Royal Naval College, Keyham Royal Naval College, Osborne Royal Naval Engineering College Royal Naval Film Corporation Royal Naval Hospital Royal Naval Medical Depot Royal Naval Minewatching Service Royal Naval Mine Depot Royal Naval Patrol Service Royal Naval Scientific Service Royal Naval Sick Quarters Royal Naval Torpedo Depot Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval War College Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth Royal Navy Dockyard Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Navy Shore Signal Service Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal School of Naval Architecture Salvage Department School of Mathematics and Naval Construction Scientific Research and Experiment Department Sea Transport Branch Sea Transport Department Sea Transport Division Ship Department Ship Design Department Signal Department Signal School Sixpenny Office Statistics Department Steam Department Superintendent of De-magnetisation Torpedo Experimental Establishment Transport Department Undersurface Warfare Department Victualling Department Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps Weapons Department Weapons Department (Naval) Women's Royal Naval Service Wireless Telegraphy Board Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707 1st Fleet 2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Africa Atlantic Fleet Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Australia Station Cape of Good Hope Station Cape and West Africa Station Battle Cruiser Fleet Battle Cruiser Force Caspian Flotilla Channel Fleet Channel Squadron Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Cork Station Coast of Scotland Commander-in-Chief, China Commander-in-Chief, Dover Flag Officer, East Africa East Indies Station East Indies and China Station Eastern Fleet Far East Fleet English Channel Grand Fleet Flag Officer Gibraltar Harwich Force Home Fleet Jamaica Station Leith Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Levant and East Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Mediterranean Fleet Medway Newfoundland Station New Zealand Division New Zealand Naval Forces Nore North America and West Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, North Sea Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands Pacific Fleet Pacific Station Admiral of Patrols Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Queenstown Station Royal East African Navy Royal Indian Navy Flag Officer Submarines Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth Reserve Fleet Scotland and Northern Ireland Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic South East Coast of America Station Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway West Africa Squadron Flag Officer, West Africa Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Direction of Naval Administration Department of the Permanent Secretary Branches and offices under the Admiralty Central Copying Branch Admiralty Central Registry Branch Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Library Admiralty Secretariat Air Branch Civil Branch Legal Branch Military Branch Naval Branch Ship Branch Civil Administration Departments under the Legal
Ministerial Lords Naval Lords Staff Naval Lords Civil Lords Civil Secretaries
Navy Board
