| Fleet Commander | |
|---|---|
Ensign of the Royal Navy
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Vice Admiral Andrew Burns since 24 September 2021 | |
| Ministry of Defence Royal Navy | |
| Member of | Admiralty Board, Navy Board, Navy Command |
| Reports to | First Sea Lord |
| Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence, on advice from the Defence Council |
| Appointer | Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council |
| Term length | Not fixed (typically 1–4 years) |
| Inaugural holder | Admiral George Zambellas |
| Formation | 2012 |
The 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 Navy Command Headquarters.
The post was created in April 2012 following a reorganisation of the Royal Navy and a re-designation of the former role of Commander-in-Chief Fleet.[1]
The Fleet Commander's purpose is to provide ships, submarines and aircraft ready for any operations that the Government requires.[1]
The Fleet Commander's major subordinates included as of September 2020:[2]
The previous post of Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Training)/Flag Officer Sea Training[5] 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 It was superseded by Commander Fleet Operational Sea Training, and in the process the senior Sea Training officer was regraded downwards from a Rear Admiral to a Commodore.[6]
The British Army equivalent is Commander Field Army. The RAF's Deputy Commander (Operations) is the close equivalent of the two positions.[7]
| Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff[8] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Rank | Name | Term began | Term ended |
 |
Admiral | Sir George Zambellas[9] | April 2012 | December 2012 |
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Vice Admiral | Sir Philip Jones | December 2012 | February 2016 |
| Fleet Commander and Chief Naval Warfare Officer[10] | ||||
 |
Vice Admiral | Ben Key[10] | February 2016 | March 2019 |
 |
Vice Admiral | Jerry Kyd[11] | March 2019 | September 2021 |
 |
Vice Admiral | Andrew Burns[12] | September 2021 | |
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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
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