Office of the Commandant General Royal Marines
Appointment as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
by Maj J Poole RM, MA to CGRM
In mid-May 2025, the Commandant General Royal Marines General Sir Gwyn Jenkins KCB OBE RM was officially announced by the Ministry of Defence as the next First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff and will succeed Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC at the end of June 2025.
General Jenkins said: ‘I have the honour to be the next First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. This is historic for the Royal Marines, the first time in our 361-year history to have had a Royal Marines officer occupy this position. This is testament to the strong opinion of the Corps in the eyes of senior decision-makers across and above Defence. It has been a privilege and an honour to lead the Royal Marines in the role of the Commandant General for the last two and a half years, I could not be prouder of all that the Royal Marines contribute for our country, and for the strong bonds that bind the whole Royal Marines Family together. My job now is clear: to prepare the Royal Navy for warfighting. The Royal Marines will play a critical role in this endeavour.’