Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (United Kingdom)
| Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff | |
|---|---|
Ensign of the Royal Navy | |
since 14 January 2022 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Abbreviation | DCNS |
| Member of | Board of Admiralty, Admiralty Board, Navy Board |
| Reports to | First Sea Lord |
| Nominator | First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for Defence |
| Appointer | Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council |
| Term length | Not fixed (typically 1–3 years) |
| Formation | 1917–1968, 2013–current |
| First holder | Vice Admiral Henry Oliver |
The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) is a senior appointment in the Royal Navy currently held by the Second Sea Lord. The incumbent is usually a three-star rank and had a NATO ranking code of OF-8, but the position has previously been held by an acting two-star ranked officer and a four-star ranked officer.