Chief of naval staff biography

Military head of the Indian Navy

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) is a statutory office held by the professional head of the Indian Navy (IN), the navalbranch of the Indian Armed Forces. Customarily held by a four-staradmiral, the CNS is the senior-most operational officer of the IN, tasked with the roles of overseeing the force's overall functioning during states of peace and conflict, along with the realization of India's strategic maritime objectives, namely, the defence of the country's sovereignty against maritime threats and the security of international sea lines in the Indo-Pacific.

Being a permanent member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and the National Security Council (NSC), the CNS also bears the responsibility of advising the nation's civilian leadership i.e., the Government of India on all matters privy to the IN.

Statutorily, the CNS ranks 12th-overall in the Indian order of precedence, and is the IN's status-equivalent of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff - all three positions of which are also occupied by four-star officers from the armed forces.

Description

Roles and responsibilities

Seated at Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy) (IHQ of MoD (Navy)), stationed in New Delhi, the CNS is the senior-most operational officer of the IN, and is tasked with the following:

• Advising the Central Government on all matters privy to the IN.
• Commitment to enhancing the force's capabilities towards sustaining combat readiness and operational effectiveness during periods of peace and conflict.
• Coordinating various components of the IN towards the protection-cum-realization of the nation's maritime sovereignty during states of armed conflict or war.
• Providing direction towards the overall functioning of the organization's facets, such

APPOINTMENTS HELD

The 21 indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff has held many appointments in the Nigerian Navy. As a Midshipman, he served onboard NNS AMBE from 1988 – 1989 and NNS DAMISA in 1989 as a Watch Keeping Officer. He was also onboard NNS AYAM in 1993 and NNS DAMISA in 2000 for Watch Keeping duties. As a young officer, he was the Officer In-Charge of Tug AJAYI JOE in 2001, Staff Officer Grade II Intelligence, Maritime Component Operation HARMONY in 2002 and Base Intelligence Officer NNS DELTA from 2004 – 2005. Vice Admiral Gambo later became the Staff Officer Grade I Plans, Naval Training Command from 2005 – 2006, Executive Officer NNS AYAM from 2006 – 2007 and Deputy Director Strategy, Headquarters Defence Intelligence Agency from 2007 – 2008. He also diligently served the former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral II Ibrahim as Naval Assistant from 2008 – 2010.
The Admiral was the Defence Attache Luanda, Angola from 2011 – 2013 and Commander/Commandant of Directorate of Naval Intelligence Annex and the Nigerian Navy Intelligence School, Apapa, Lagos from 2013    – 2014. In 2014, the senior officer was made the Deputy Director and Acting Director Defence Affairs in the Office of National Security Adviser and completed his tour of duty in 2015. He was equally the Director Simulation at the Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre, Bonny Camp, Lagos from 2015 – 2017 and the Director Research and Rescue at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja from March – September 2017. Notably, Vice Admiral Gambo was from June – September 2017 the Security Coordinator Presidential Relief Committee on North Eastern Nigeria. He also held the post of the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Naval Training Command, Lagos from September 2017 – September 2018. Vice Admiral Gambo was appointed Director Procurement, Defence Space Administration in September 2018, the appointment he held until his appointment as the 21 Chief of the Naval Staff on 26

Educated at Bromsgrove School, Ben Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a University Cadet, subsequently graduating in Physics from Royal Holloway, University of London. He qualified as both helicopter aircrew and as a Principal Warfare Officer and as a junior officer saw service around the world in a variety of frigates and destroyers.

He has been privileged to command four ships: the mine hunter HMS SANDOWN, the frigates HMS IRON DUKE and HMS LANCASTER, and the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

Shore appointments have included Resources and Plans in MOD, an advisor to the Iraqi Director Joint Staff in Baghdad, the UK’s Permanent Joint HQ, and HQ Air Command. He has also served as Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff. From April 2013 to July 2015 he was Flag Officer Sea Training, responsible for recruiting as well as individual and operational training across the Royal Navy.

Promoted to Vice Admiral in February 2016, he was the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander from then until March 2019. He then served as the Chief of Joint Operations, prior to his appointment as First Sea Lord in November 2021. He was awarded the US Bronze Star in 2006 for his service in Baghdad, appointed CBE in 2016 and KCB in 2021.

Ben and his wife Elly have 3 children and make their home in Dorset. He is a governor of a school founded by his grandmother, and holds Honorary Degrees from his old university and the University of Plymouth. A Freeman of the City of London and a Younger Brother of Trinity House, he holds a Diploma from the Institute of Directors and is an alumnus of the London Business School. Now much better at talking about sport than actually playing any, he is President of a number of Royal Navy and UK Armed Forces sports.