Ceremony On HMS Victory As New First Sea Lord Takes Up Role

A formal ceremony has marked the accession of General Sir Gwyn Jenkins to the post of First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy.

The official handover took place yesterday (Tuesday) in Portsmouth aboard HMS Victory, in the historic ship’s Great Cabin, as per a Royal Navy press statement. Acting Chief of Naval Staff, Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell was also present for the special ceremony.

General Gwyn commented: “It is a huge honour to formally start in the role of First Sea Lord today. Leading the incredible sailors, marines and civil servants of the Royal Navy is a true privilege.

“I have always been driven by our mission to keep the UK safe – now more than ever we must: strengthen our combat readiness, modernise faster and shape the Navy our country needs.”

General Gwyn was first commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1990, serving as a junior officer in the Commando Logistics Regiment and on operations in Northern Ireland with 42 Commando RM.

He gained a master’s degree in Defence Studies in 2004 at Military College Shrivenham having graduated from its Advanced Command and Staff Course. After promotion to Colonel he was deployed for 12 months to Afghanistan; on his return to the UK in 2012 he spent two years as the Military Assistant to the Prime Minister.

As a Brigadier, he spent time in the Cabinet Office and then took command of 3 Commando Brigade before being promoted to Major General in January 2019, first serving in the Royal Navy as the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff.

Since August 2024, General Gwyn had served as the Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence. He will also retain his role as Commandant General of the Royal Marines, a post he first took on last year.

• You can read more details about the handover ceremony and General Gwyn’s new role on the Royal Navy website