Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff
Ensign of theRoyal Navy
Ministry of Defence
Member of	Admiralty Board,Navy Board,Navy Command
Reports to	Second Sea Lord andDeputy Chief of the Naval Staff andFleet Commander
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by theKing-in-Council
Term length	Not fixed (typically 1–3 years)
Inaugural holder	Alexander Duff
Formation	1917

TheAssistant Chief of the Naval Staff (A.C.N.S.) is a senior appointment in theRoyal Navy usually atwo-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7.

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

Rear-AdmiralAlexander 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 theDeputy Chief of the Naval Staff.^[2]

The Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Continued in this capacity until 1941 when the office of theVice Chief of Naval Staff was created they then supported that flag officer until 1985 when that post was abolished. DuringWorld 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]

In April 2012, Rear AdmiralMatt 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 SeniorVice 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 ofAdmiralty Board and Service Executive Committee (Navy Board) policy
4. Provide a high level guidance and prioritisation needed by theNaval 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. AsNav 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 SirAlexander Duff, — (May 1917–August 1919), acting ACNS from 1917- January 1918^[16]
• Rear-AdmiralJames Fergusson, — (August 1919–February 1920)
• Rear-Admiral SirErnle Chatfield, — (February 1920–September 1922)^[17]
• Rear-AdmiralCyril Fuller, — (September 1922–May 1923)^[18]
• Rear-AdmiralArthur Waistell, — (May 1923–October 1924)
• Rear-AdmiralFrederic Charles Dreyer, — (October 1924–April 1927)^[19]
• Rear-AdmiralDudley Pound, — (April 1927–April 1929)^[20]
• Rear-AdmiralWilfred Tomkinson, — (April 1929–May 1931)
• Rear-AdmiralJohn Knowles Im Thurn, — (May 1931–February 1933)^[21]
• Rear-AdmiralSidney Bailey, — (February 1933–July 1934)
• Rear-AdmiralCharles Kennedy-Purvis, — (July 1934–October 1936)
• Rear-AdmiralJohn Cunningham, — (October 1936-August 1937)
• Rear-AdmiralLancelot E. Holland, — (August 1937–January 1939)
• Rear-AdmiralHarold 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-AdmiralGeoffrey Oliver, — (December 1946–August 1948)
• Rear-AdmiralRalph Edwards, — (August 1948–February 1951)
• Rear-AdmiralEric Clifford, — (February 1951–June 1952)
• Rear-AdmiralRobert Elkins, — (June 1952–August 1954)
• Rear-AdmiralMichael Goodenough, — (August 1954-January 1956)
• Rear-AdmiralRoyston Wright, —(January 1956–February 1958)
• Rear-AdmiralDesmond Dreyer, —(February 1958–November 1959)
• Rear-AdmiralAntony Cole, — (November 1959–February 1962)
• Rear-AdmiralPeter Hill-Norton, — (February 1962-March 1964)
• Rear-AdmiralMichael Pollock,— (March 1964–April 1966)

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

• Rear-AdmiralJohn Adams, — (April 1966–January 1968)
• Rear-AdmiralTerence Lewin, — (January 1968–June 1969)
• Rear-AdmiralIan Easton, — (June 1969–April 1971)
• Rear-AdmiralHenry Leach, — (April 1971–November 1973)
• Rear-AdmiralPeter Berger, — (November 1973–December 1975)
• Rear-AdmiralMichael Stacey, —(December 1975–July 1976)
• Rear-AdmiralBryan Straker, — (July 1976–June 1978)
• Rear-AdmiralJames Kennon, — (June 1978–December 1979)
• Rear-AdmiralDerek Reffell, — (December 1979–December 1981)
• Rear-AdmiralGeoffrey Dalton, — (December 1981–October 1984)

Note: Changed back to Assistant Chief of Naval Staff

• Rear-AdmiralJeremy Black, — (October 1984–July 1986)
• Rear-AdmiralMichael Livesay, — (July 1986–December 1988)
• Rear-AdmiralHugo White, – (December 1988–February 1991)
• Rear-AdmiralPeter Abbott, — (February 1991–September 1993)
• Rear-AdmiralJohn Brigstocke, — (September 1993–March 1995)
• Rear-AdmiralJeremy Blackman, – (March 1995–May 1997)
• Rear-AdmiralJonathan Band,— (May 1997–December 1999)^[24]
• Rear-AdmiralJames Burnell-Nugent, — (December 1999–April 2001)
• Rear-AdmiralTimothy McClement, —(April 2001–May 2003)
• Rear-AdmiralAdrian Johns:, — (May 2003–July 2005)
• Rear-AdmiralAlan Massey, — (July 2005–February 2008)
• Rear-AdmiralRobert Cooling, — (February 2008–June 2009)
• Rear-AdmiralPhilip 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-AdmiralMatt Parr — (January 2012–May 2013)
• Rear-AdmiralClive Johnstone — (May 2013–September 2015)
• Rear-AdmiralNick Hine — (September 2015–January 2019)^[26]
• Major-GeneralGwyn Jenkins — (January 2019–September 2020)^[27]
• Rear-AdmiralIain Lower — (September 2020–December 2022)^[28]
• Rear-AdmiralAnthony Rimington — (December 2022–March 2024)^[29]
• Major-GeneralDuncan Forbes — (March 2024–February 2025)^[30]
• Major-GeneralPaul Maynard — (February 2025–present)

Note: This post is also known as Director Strategy and Policy.^[29]

Staff officers would normally be supported by a Naval Assistant and a Personal Secretary usually they would be either aLieutenant commander,Commander or aCaptain.^[31]

• Rear-AdmiralGeoffrey Barnard, October 1952-January 1953^[32]
• Rear-AdmiralArthur Pedder, — (January 1953–October 1954)^[33]
• Rear-AdmiralWilliam John Yendell, — (October 1954–July 1957)^[34]
• Rear-AdmiralHenry Rolfe, — (July 1957–June 1960)
• Rear-AdmiralMaurice Ross, — (June 1960–October 1963)
• Rear-AdmiralJohn G. B. Cooke, —(October 1963–March 1966)
• Rear-AdmiralAnthony Griffin, — (March 1966–May 1968)

Note:Post Abolished 1968 changed to ACNS Operational Requirements

• Rear-AdmiralDerek Empson, —(July 1968–July 1969)
• Rear-AdmiralDouglas Parker, — (July 1969–June 1971)^[35]
• Rear-AdmiralPeter Austin, — (June 1971–June 1973)^[36]
• Rear-AdmiralJames Dunbar Cook, — (June 1973–February 1975)
• Rear-AdmiralPeter Branson, —(February 1975–February 1977)^[37]
• Rear-AdmiralJohn Gerard-Pearse, — (February 1977–January 1979)
• Rear-AdmiralMartin La Touche-Wemyss, — (January 1979–January 1981)
• Rear-AdmiralAnthony Whetstone, — (January 1981–April 1983)
• Rear-AdmiralLinley Middleton, — (April 1983–July 1984)^[38]
• Rear-AdmiralKenneth Snow, — (July–October 1984)

Note: Post abolished 1984

• Rear-AdmiralRae McKaig, — (May 1968–October 1970)^[39]
• Rear-AdmiralPhilip Higham, — (October 1970-October 1972)
• Rear-AdmiralJames Jungius, — (October 1972–November 1974)
• Rear-AdmiralAlan G. Watson, — (November 1974–November 1976)
• Rear-AdmiralStephen Berthon, — (November 1976-February 1978)^[40]
• Rear-AdmiralSimon Cassels, —(February 1978–December 1980)
• Rear-AdmiralPeter Stanford, — (December 1980–September 1982)
• Rear-AdmiralGeoffrey G. W. Marsh, — (September 1982–May 1984)^[41]
• Rear-AdmiralJohn Kerr, — (September 1984–January 1985)

Note: Post abolished 1985

• Rear-Admiral Alexander J. Burton, — (October 2014–July 2015)

Note:Changed to ACNS (Submarines)

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.^[42][43]

• Rear AdmiralChristopher Gardner — (2017–2019)
• Rear Admiral Jim Higham — (2019–2020)

• Rear-AdmiralJohn Weale, — (July 2015–May 2020)
• Commodore Robert Anstey, — (March 2020 – Present), interim

• Rear-AdmiralPeter Hudson, — (December 2011–February 2013)
• Rear-AdmiralIan Jess, — (March 2013–April 2015)
• Rear-AdmiralRichard Stokes, — (April 2015–January 2018)^[44]

Note: This post was renamed as Director Naval Support (DNS).^[45]

• Rear-AdmiralBenjamin Key, — (2014–2015)
• Rear-AdmiralJohn Clink, — (July 2016–2017 )
• Rear-AdmiralWilliam Warrender, — (2017–2019)

Note: This post was reassigned toCommander Fleet Operational Sea Training.

• Rear-AdmiralPhilip Hally — (2019–2021)^[46]
• Rear-AdmiralJude Terry — (2021–Present)^[47]

Note: This post is also known as Director People & Training.^[48][49]

• 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

• Naval Staff of the Royal Navy
• 1917 establishments in the United Kingdom
• Admiralty during World War II
• Assistant chiefs of staff

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata