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Chief of the Defence Staff
Flag of the Chief of the Defence Staff.svg
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, United Kingdom Chief of Defense at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium Jan. 17, 2024 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin

since 30 November 2021
Ministry of Defence
British Armed Forces
Abbreviation CDS
Member of Defence Council
Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports to The Prime Minister
Secretary of State for Defence
Nominator Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer The Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Formation 1 January 1959
First holder Marshal of the RAF Sir William Dickson
Deputy Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff

The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the top military leader in the British Armed Forces. This person is the most important uniformed military advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The CDS works at the Ministry of Defence. They work closely with the Permanent Under-Secretary, who is the most senior non-military official there. The CDS holds the highest rank among all serving officers in the armed forces.

The King or Queen is officially the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. However, the Government of the United Kingdom actually makes the decisions. They use their special powers to guide the armed forces through the Ministry of Defence's Defence Council. The CDS is a key member of this council.

Currently, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin is the CDS. He took over from General Sir Nick Carter in November 2021. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton has been announced as the next CDS. He will start his role in September 2025. The Secretary of State for Defence suggests who should be CDS to the Prime Minister. Then, the King or Queen approves the choice.

What the Chief of the Defence Staff Does

The CDS has many important jobs. These include:

  • Leading the defence efforts alongside the Permanent Secretary.
  • Creating plans for the future of the Armed Forces. This includes how they will grow and change.
  • Managing current military operations as the main commander.
  • Building strong relationships with the armed forces of other countries.

People Who Help the CDS

The CDS has a main helper called the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. Since 1997, this deputy has held a similar rank. Usually, they come from a different branch of the military than the CDS.

There are also several Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS) roles. These people support the Vice-Chief. Some of these roles include:

  • Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations).
  • Chief of Defence People.
  • Deputy Chief of Defence Staff for Military Capability.

The CDS works very closely with the Ministry of Defence's Permanent Under-Secretary. Both report directly to the Secretary of State for Defence. The CDS focuses on military actions and plans. The Permanent Under-Secretary handles money and rules for the Ministry.

A group called the Strategic Advisory Panel also helps the CDS.

History of the CDS Role

The job of Chief of the Defence Staff started in 1959. It was created because of new ideas about how different parts of the military could work together. These ideas became very important during the Second World War. The first person to hold the role was Marshal of the RAF Sir William Dickson. Before 1959, he was the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

From 1959 until the late 1970s, the CDS job rotated strictly between the three main military branches. This means an officer from the Navy, then the Army, then the Air Force would take the role. This rotation changed when Marshal of the RAF Sir Andrew Humphrey passed away.

From the start until 1997, the CDS was always given the highest rank in their military branch. For example, an Admiral of the Fleet for the Navy or a Field Marshal for the Army. However, after the Cold War, the British Armed Forces became smaller. So, since 1997, the CDS keeps their rank of Admiral, General, or Air Chief Marshal. These are still very high ranks.

Even though there's no rule against it, few Royal Marines officers reach a high enough rank to be considered for the CDS role. However, in 2016, a Royal Marine officer named Gordon Messenger became a general. He was then appointed as the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.

Starting in April 2025, the CDS will also be in charge of the Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ). This means they will command the four service chiefs. They will also be responsible for designing forces and getting equipment for the armed forces.

Professional heads of the English/British Armed Forces
Royal Navy British Army Royal Air Force Combined
1645 N/A Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (1645/60–1904, intermittently) N/A N/A
1689 Senior Naval Lord (1689–1771)
1771 First Naval Lord (1771–1904)
1904 First Sea Lord (1904–1917) Chief of the General Staff (1904–1909)
1909 Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1909–1964)
1917 First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1917–present)
1918 Chief of the Air Staff (1918–present)
1959 Chief of the Defence Staff (1959–present)
1964 Chief of the General Staff (1964–present)

List of Chiefs of the Defence Staff

No. Picture Chief of the Defence Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Life peerage Ref
1
Sir William Dickson
Dickson, WilliamMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir William Dickson
(1898–1987)
1 January 1959 12 July 1959 192 days  Royal Air Force None
2
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Mountbatten, LouisAdmiral of the Fleet
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
(1900–1979)
13 July 1959 15 July 1965 6 years, 2 days  Royal Navy Hereditary peerage,
Earl Mountbatten of Burma
3
Sir Richard Hull
Hull, RichardField Marshal
Sir Richard Hull
(1907–1989)
16 July 1965 4 August 1967 2 years, 19 days  British Army None
4
Sir Charles Elworthy
Elworthy, CharlesMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir Charles Elworthy
(1911–1993)
4 August 1967 8 April 1971 3 years, 247 days  Royal Air Force Baron Elworthy
5
Sir Peter Hill-Norton
Hill-Norton, PeterAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Peter Hill-Norton
(1915–2004)
9 April 1971 21 October 1973 2 years, 195 days  Royal Navy Baron Hill-Norton
6
Sir Michael Carver
Carver, MichaelField Marshal
Sir Michael Carver
(1915–2001)
21 October 1973 24 October 1976 3 years, 3 days  British Army Baron Carver
7
Sir Andrew Humphrey
Humphrey, AndrewMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir Andrew Humphrey
(1921–1977)
24 October 1976 24 January 1977 † 92 days  Royal Air Force None
-
Sir Edward Ashmore
Ashmore, EdwardAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Edward Ashmore
(1919–2016)
Acting
9 February 1977 30 August 1977 202 days  Royal Navy None
8
Sir Neil Cameron
Cameron, NeilMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir Neil Cameron
(1920–1985)
31 August 1977 31 August 1979 2 years  Royal Air Force Baron Cameron of Balhousie
9
Sir Terence Lewin
Lewin, TerenceAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir Terence Lewin
(1920–1999)
1 September 1979 30 September 1982 3 years, 29 days  Royal Navy Baron Lewin
10
Sir Edwin Bramall
Bramall, EdwinField Marshal
Sir Edwin Bramall
(1923–2019)
1 October 1982 31 October 1985 3 years, 30 days  British Army Baron Bramall
11
Sir John Fieldhouse
Fieldhouse, JohnAdmiral of the Fleet
Sir John Fieldhouse
(1928–1992)
1 November 1985 9 December 1988 3 years, 38 days  Royal Navy Baron Fieldhouse
12
Sir David Craig
Craig, DavidMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir David Craig
(born 1929)
9 December 1988 1 April 1991 2 years, 113 days  Royal Air Force Baron Craig of Radley
13
Sir Richard Vincent
Vincent, RichardField Marshal
Sir Richard Vincent
(1931–2018)
2 April 1991 31 December 1992 1 year, 273 days  British Army Baron Vincent of Coleshill
14
Sir Peter Harding
Robin Harding, PeterMarshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir Peter Harding
(1933–2021)
31 December 1992 13 March 1994 1 year, 72 days  Royal Air Force None
15
Sir Peter Inge
Inge, PeterField Marshal
Sir Peter Inge
(1935–2022)
15 March 1994 1 April 1997 3 years, 17 days  British Army Baron Inge
16
Sir Charles Guthrie
Guthrie, CharlesGeneral
Sir Charles Guthrie
(born 1938)
2 April 1997 15 February 2001 3 years, 319 days  British Army Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank
17
Sir Michael Boyce
Boyce, MichaelAdmiral
Sir Michael Boyce
(1943–2022)
16 February 2001 2 May 2003 2 years, 75 days  Royal Navy Baron Boyce
18
Sir Michael Walker
Walker, MichaelGeneral
Sir Michael Walker
(born 1944)
2 May 2003 28 April 2006 2 years, 361 days  British Army Baron Walker of Aldringham
19
Sir Graham "Jock" Stirrup
Stirrup, JockAir Chief Marshal
Sir Graham "Jock" Stirrup
(born 1949)
28 April 2006 29 October 2010 4 years, 184 days  Royal Air Force Baron Stirrup of Marylebone
20
Sir David Richards
Richards, DavidGeneral
Sir David Richards
(born 1952)
29 October 2010 18 July 2013 2 years, 271 days  British Army Baron Richards of Herstmonceux
21
Sir Nicholas Houghton
Houghton, NickGeneral
Sir Nicholas Houghton
(born 1954)
18 July 2013 14 July 2016 2 years, 362 days  British Army Baron Houghton of Richmond
22
Sir Stuart Peach
Houghton, NickAir Chief Marshal
Sir Stuart Peach
(born 1956)
14 July 2016 11 June 2018 1 year, 332 days  Royal Air Force Baron Peach
23
Sir Nicholas Carter
Houghton, NickGeneral
Sir Nicholas Carter
(born 1959)
11 June 2018 30 November 2021 3 years, 172 days  British Army None
24
Sir Tony Radakin
Radakin, TonyAdmiral
Sir Tony Radakin
(born 1965)
30 November 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 244 days  Royal Navy Incumbent

Peerage for Former Chiefs

When Chiefs of Defence Staff retire, they usually receive a special honor. They are given a life peerage. This means they become a "peer" for life and can sit in the House of Lords. They are known as non-political crossbench peers. This appointment is suggested directly to the King or Queen by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister can choose a few important public servants for this honor when they retire. For example, Sir Jock Stirrup became Baron Stirrup in 2010.

See Also

  • Head of the British Armed Forces
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