Senior normal Sir Gwyn Jenkins appointed new Royal Navy leader

A senior normal and previous head of UK Special Forces has been appointed head of the Royal Navy.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins has taken over the position after Adm Sir Ben Key was once got rid of as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff whilst underneath investigation over allegations of misconduct.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated the overall was once “a proven leader with a distinguished career in both the military and at the core of government”.

Earlier this week a BBC Panorama investigation stated Gen Jenkins had overseen the rejection of masses of UK resettlement packages from Afghan commandos who had served along the SAS.

The rejections have been debatable as a result of they got here at a time when a judge-led public inquiry in the United Kingdom had begun investigating the SAS for alleged battle crimes.

The Afghan commandos have been provide on raid operations when alleged illegal killings happened, however can’t be pressured to provide proof to the inquiry if they aren’t in the United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated there was once no proof that it had attempted to stop former Afghan troops from giving proof to the inquiry.

Gen Jenkins didn’t reply to Panorama’s request for remark.

On his appointment as head of the Royal Navy on Thursday, Gen Jenkins stated it was once “an honour” and he felt “extremely privileged to lead the exceptional sailors and marines of the Royal Navy at this pivotal time for UK Defence”.

Healey added: “As the first Royal Marine appointed to the role, this is a hugely significant moment for the Royal Navy.”

Gen Jenkins joined the Royal Marines in 1990. He later served as a commanding officer within the Special Boat Service (SBS), the naval an identical of the SAS.

He was once awarded an OBE for a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan, and returned to the United Kingdom in 2012 because the top minister’s army assistant.

He additionally served within the Cabinet Office, and returned to he army in 2017, changing into vice leader of the defence personnel. Since August 2024, he were appearing as a strategic guide to Healey.

Earlier in May, the MoD showed that Gen Jenkins’s predecessor, Adm Key, were got rid of from tasks whilst underneath investigation, however didn’t give any more main points.

It adopted experiences within the Sun that Adm Key was once suspected of getting an affair with a extra junior feminine colleague.

He was once because of retire from his place this summer season, after serving as the pinnacle of the Royal Navy since 2021, that means the seek for his successor was once already underway.