Chief of Staff Fleet

Office of the Chief of Staff, Fleet
Ensign of the Royal Navy
Ministry of Defence
Reports toCommander-in-Chief Fleet
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council
Term lengthNot fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holderVice-Admiral, John Ernle Pope
Formation1971-2012

The Chief of Staff, Fleet (COSFLEET) also formally known as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet was a senior British Royal Navy appointment. The office holder was the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's principal staff officer responsible for coordinating the supporting staff of Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, from November 1971 to February 2012.

History

Between 1954 and 1971 Royal Navy senior commands were either abolished or merged into fewer but larger commands.[1] In November 1971, the Western Fleet was merged with the Far East Fleet to form a single seagoing command, commonly known as Fleet Command or the FLEET. The Chief of Staff Fleet was the principal staff officer of the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's who was responsible for coordinating the supporting senior staff of Fleet Headquarters until April 2012 when the post was abolished.

From February 1990 until April 2012 the office holder simultaneously held the joint title of Deputy Commander in Chief, the Fleet.[2][3]

Chiefs of Staff, Fleet

Post holders included:[4]

Rank Flag Name Term
Chief of Staff, Fleet
1 Vice-Admiral John Ernle Pope November 1971- May 1974
2 Rear-Admiral John O Roberts May 1974-April 1976
3 Vice-Admiral Peter E.C. Berger April 1976-October 1978
4 Vice-Admiral William D.M. Staveley October 1978-June 1980
5 Vice-Admiral Sir David J. Hallifax June 1980-May 1982
6 Vice-Admiral Sir Edward R. Anson May 1982-June 1984
7 Vice-Admiral Sir John M. Webster June 1984-November 1986
8 Rear-Admiral Robin I.T. Hogg November 1986-December 1987
9 Rear-Admiral Peter G.V. Dingemans December 1987-February 1990
10 Vice-Admiral Sir Roy Newman Feb 1990–June 1992
11 Rear-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Biggs June 1992–June 1994
12 Vice-Admiral Sir Jonathan Tod June 1994–June 1997
13 Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham June 1997–Jan 1999
14 Vice-Admiral Sir Fabian Malbon Jan 1999–May 2001
15 Vice-Admiral Sir Jonathon Band May 2001–July 2002
16 Vice-Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope July 2002–June 2004
17 Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy McClement June 2004–Oct 2006
18 Vice-Admiral Paul Boissier Oct 2006–July 2009
19 Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson July 2009–Jan 2011
20 Vice-Admiral Sir George Zambellas Jan 2011–Dec 2011
21 Vice-Admiral Philip Jones Dec 2011–April 2012

References

  1. ^ Smith, Gordon. "Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployment 1947-2013: Summary of Fleet Organisation 1972-1981". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 12 July 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. ^ The Civil Service Yearbook 1998 p.164.
  3. ^ The Civil Service Yearbook 2002 p.170.
  4. ^ Mackie, Colin (August 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin. C. Mackie. Retrieved 28 August 2018.