| Post: | Office of the Chief of Staff, Fleet |
| Insignia: | Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 150px |
| Insigniacaption: | Ensign of the Royal Navy |
| Department: | Ministry of Defence |
| Reports To: | Commander-in-Chief Fleet |
| Appointer: | Prime Minister |
| Appointer Qualified: | Subject to formal approval by the Queen-in-Council |
| Termlength: | Not fixed (typically 1–3 years) |
| Inaugural: | Vice-Admiral, John Ernle Pope |
| Formation: | 1971-2012 |
The Chief of Staff, Fleet (COSFLEET) also formally known as Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet was a senior British Royal Navy appointment. The office holder was the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's principal staff officer responsible for coordinating the supporting staff of Fleet Headquarters, Northwood, from November 1971 to February 2012.
Between 1954 and 1971 Royal Navy senior commands were either abolished or merged into fewer but larger commands.[1] In November 1971, the Western Fleet was merged with the Far East Fleet to form a single seagoing command, commonly known as Fleet Command or the FLEET. The Chief of Staff Fleet was the principal staff officer of the Commander-in-Chief, Fleet's who was responsible for coordinating the supporting senior staff of Fleet Headquarters until April 2012 when the post was abolished.
From February 1990 until April 2012 the office holder simultaneously held the joint title of Deputy Commander in Chief, the Fleet.[2] [3]
Post holders included:[4]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of Staff, Fleet | ||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | John Ernle Pope | November 1971- May 1974 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | May 1974-April 1976 | ||
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | April 1976-October 1978 | ||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | William D.M. Staveley | October 1978-June 1980 | |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | Sir David J. Hallifax | June 1980-May 1982 | |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Edward R. Anson | May 1982-June 1984 | |
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | Sir John M. Webster | June 1984-November 1986 | |
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | Robin I.T. Hogg | November 1986-December 1987 | |
| 9 | Rear-Admiral | December 1987-February 1990 | ||
| 10 | Vice-Admiral | Feb 1990–June 1992 | ||
| 11 | Rear-Admiral | June 1992–June 1994 | ||
| 12 | Vice-Admiral | June 1994–June 1997 | ||
| 13 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Jeremy Blackham | June 1997–Jan 1999 | |
| 14 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Fabian Malbon | Jan 1999–May 2001 | |
| 15 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Jonathon Band | May 2001–July 2002 | |
| 16 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Mark Stanhope | July 2002–June 2004 | |
| 17 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Timothy McClement | June 2004–Oct 2006 | |
| 18 | Vice-Admiral | Oct 2006–July 2009 | ||
| 19 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Richard Ibbotson | July 2009–Jan 2011 | |
| 20 | Vice-Admiral | Sir George Zambellas | Jan 2011–Dec 2011 | |
| 21 | Vice-Admiral | Dec 2011–April 2012 | ||