The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy officer who advises the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on naval officer appointing (and General Officers).
Their counterpart in the British Army is the Military Secretary. The Royal Air Force equivalent is the Air Secretary. The Director People and Training has taken over the role, combining the responsibilities of Flag Officer Sea Training.
History
The Office of the Naval Secretary was originally established in 1800 when the appointment was styled Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty and remained so styled until 1911. In 1912 it was re-titled Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty.
When the Admiralty department was abolished in 1964 the post was renamed Naval Secretary, colloquially known as "NAVSEC", and now advising the Royal Navy's military head and, consequently, the Navy Board on future appointments. In the case of tri-service appointments, the responsibility was to recommend candidates to the Defence Board.
From 2010 to 2015, Sir David Steel, as Naval Secretary, simultaneously held the additional title of Chief Naval Logistics Officer (as head the Naval Logistics Branch). In 2015 further additional responsibilities were assumed for the Royal Naval Reserve and the title of Flag Officer, Maritime Reserves.
In this capacity the incumbent is responsible for advising the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff on all matters relating to Flag Officers’ appointing, with Officers with the rank of Commodore and/or Captain delegated to the Office of Assistant to the Naval Secretary who currently holds the rank of Commodore. A March 2020 edition of Navy News noted that the Director People and Training took over the people-related policies and career management below this level from the Naval Secretary.
In May 2021, it was announced that Jude Terry would be the next Naval Secretary, being promoted to rear admiral and taking up the post in 2022. She is the first woman to serve as an admiral in the Royal Navy.
Secretaries
Post holders included:
Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty
1800 – 1801 John Harrison
1801 – 1802 Benjamin Tucker
1802 – 1804 George Parker
1804 – 1805 William Budge
1805 – 1806 John Deas Thomson
1806 – 1807 Henry Grant
1807 – 1808 Edward Golding
1808 – 1809 Captain Robert Moorsom
1809 – 1810 Captain Lord Edward O'Brien
1810 – 1812 Captain Frederick Edgcumbe
1812 – 1823 Captain Robert William Hay
1823 – 1827 Captain George Baillie Hamilton
1827 – 1828 Captain Hon. Robert Cavendish Spencer
1828 – 1830 Captain Richard Saunders Dundas
1830 – Captain John Thomas Briggs
1830 – 1831 Captain Edward Stewart
1831 – 1834 Major George Graham (RM) 1834 Captain George Gipps 1834 – Captain John George Cole 1835 – Captain George Gipps 1835 – Captain Hon. Frederick William Grey 1835 – 1839 Captain Henry Tufnell 1839 – 1841 Viscount Melgund (acting) 1841 – 1845 Captain William Baillie-Hamilton 1845 – 1846 Captain Richard Saunders Dundas 1846 – Captain Hon. Henry Spencer Law 1846 – 1848 Captain Henry Eden 1848 – 1852 Captain Charles Eden 1852 – 1853 Captain Frederick Thomas Pelham 1853 – 1855 Captain Henry Higgins Donatus O'Brien 1855 – 1857 Captain Thomas George Baring 1857 – 1858 Captain Hon. James Robert Drummond 1858 – 1859 Captain Herbert Harley Murray 1859 – 1862 Captain John Moore 1862 – 1863 Captain Alfred Phillips Ryder 1863 – 1866 Captain Robert Hall 1866 – Captain Frederick Archibald Campbell 1866 – 1867 Captain John Slaney Pakington 1867 – 1868 Captain Thomas Brandreth 1868 – 1870 Captain Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour 1870 – 1871 Captain Chandos S. Scudamore Stanhope 1871 – 1873 Captain George Tryon 1874 – 1876 Captain Michael Culme-Seymour 1876 – 1881 Captain William Codrington 1881 – 1883 Captain John O. Hopkins 1883 – 1885 Captain Lewis A. Beaumont 1885 – 1888 Rear-Admiral The Rt. Hon. Lord Walter Kerr 1889 – 1892 Rear-Admiral Alfred T. Dale 1892 – 1894 Captain Richard H. Hamond 1894 – 1897 Captain Hedworth Lambton 1897 – 1899 Captain Wilmot Fawkes 1899 – 1900 Captain Maurice Bourke 1900 – 1902 Captain Wilmot Fawkes 1902 – 1905 Captain Hugh Tyrwhitt 1905 – 1908 Captain Hugh Evan-Thomas 1908 – 1910 Captain Charles Madden