Fleet Commander

Fleet Commander
Ensign of the Royal Navy
since 5 September 2025
Ministry of Defence
Royal Navy
Member ofAdmiralty Board, Navy Board, Navy Command
Reports toFirst Sea Lord
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence, on advice from the Defence Council
Appointer
Term length
  • Not fixed (typically 1–4 years)
Inaugural holderAdmiral George Zambellas
Formation2012

Fleet Commander is a senior Royal Navy post, responsible for the operation, resourcing and training of the ships, submarines and aircraft, and personnel, of the Naval Service. The vice-admiral incumbent is required to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for operations, and is based at the fleet headquarters at HMS Excellent, Whale Island.

The post was created in April 2012 following a reorganisation of the Royal Navy and a downgrading in rank of the former role of Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

Responsibilities

The fleet commander's purpose is to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for any operations that the government requires.

The fleet commander's major subordinates included as of September 2020:

The previous post of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)/Flag Officer Sea Training was disestablished in May-June 2020. It was superseded by Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training, and in the process the senior Sea Training officer was regraded downwards from a rear admiral to a commodore.

The British Army equivalent is Commander Field Army. The RAF's Air and Space Commander is the close equivalent of the two positions.

List of fleet commanders

Fleet Commander

Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
ImageRankNameTerm beganTerm ended
AdmiralSir George ZambellasApril 2012December 2012
Vice AdmiralSir Philip JonesDecember 2012February 2016
Fleet Commander and Chief Naval Warfare Officer
Vice AdmiralBen KeyFebruary 2016March 2019
Vice AdmiralJerry KydMarch 2019September 2021
Vice AdmiralAndrew BurnsSeptember 2021

September 2025

Vice Admiral Steve MoorhouseSeptember 2025

Deputy Fleet Commander

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Navy Board".
  2. ↑ "How Defence Works Version 6.0 Sep2020" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. UK MOD. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020. page 28
  3. ↑ "A real privilege to assume the role of Director Force Generation for the Royal Navy. I have the telescope!!".
  4. ↑ "Freedom of Information Response" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Navy Command senior, as of April 2017 - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. MOD UK. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Who is the new Flag Officer Sea Training" (PDF). whatdotheyknow.com. Whatdotheyknow. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020. In response to your request, I can advise you that the title Flag Officer Sea Training will cease to exist on 1 May 2020 and is replaced by the 1* post of Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training
  7. ↑ "Air Command senior, as of September 2012 - GOV.UK". assets.publishing.service.gov.uk.
  8. ↑ "Navy Command senior, as of March 2014". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  9. ↑ Ups and outs: October 2012 Defence Viewpoints
  10. 1 2 "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Royal Navy Appoints New Senior Officers". Forces.net. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  12. ↑ "Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander". Royal Navy. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "New Fleet Commnder takes over Royal Navy role". 5 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  14. ↑ Royal Navy’s Deputy Fleet Commander Visits UK Hydrographic Office Subsea World News, 30 July 2012
  15. ↑ "Navy senior staff, March 2013".
  16. ↑ Peter, Jeff. "Fleet training". Retrieved 13 April 2024.