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New First Sea Lord officially takes up role after ceremony on HMS Victory
27 May 2025
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins will lead the Royal Navy of the future as he takes up the mantle of First Sea Lord, becoming head of the nation’s Senior Service.
A formal supersession took place today in the historic setting of HMS Victory’s Great Cabin, in Portsmouth.
He was joined by Acting Chief of Naval Staff, Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell for the official handover.
General Gwyn takes over following his role as Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence, playing key roles in UK's Defence Agreement with Germany and strategic partnership with Norway.
He said: “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.”
Leading the incredible sailors, marines and civil servants of the Royal Navy is a true privilege.
During his time as First Sea Lord, General Gwyn will be in command of more than 30,000 personnel, more than 50 warships, nuclear submarines and support vessels, the helicopters and jets of the Fleet Air Arm and the elite Naval infantry of the Royal Marines.
He will oversee the continuing build of the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, with them expecting to become operational towards the end of his tenure; the steel cut of the first Solid Support Ship; the seventh Astute-class submarine entering service and the continuing development of the Dreadnought-class of submarine.
A graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Military College Shrivenham, he went on to oversee global operations in PJHQ before serving in Afghanistan where he was awarded an OBE.
Moving to No 10 Downing Street as the Military Assistant to the Prime Minister, he then worked in the Cabinet Office and led 3 Commando Brigade.
Rising to the position of General as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 2022 he was responsible for running the armed forces aspects of defence business, and in 2024 he was appointed Commandant General of the Royal Marines, a role which he will continue to hold.