The Chief of the Staff of the French Navy (French: Chef d'État-Major de la Marine, CEMM) is the head of the French Navy and responsible to the Minister of Defence for its preparation and deployment. As a naval expert, he assists: * the chef d'état-major des armées for operations involving naval forces, as well as for planning and pulling-together future military means * the Prime Minister for safeguarding France's national maritime approaches He has authority over: He presides over the board of directors of the hydrographic and oceanographic service of the navy (SHOM).