The Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (ACDS) is a senior British military officer. There are a number of ACDS appointments and they are held by officers of

two-star rank An officer of two-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-7. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, two-star officers hold the rank ...

(

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star " admiral" rank. It is often rega ...

air vice-marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...

, or

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

). They work in the

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in state ...

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Health)

The ACDS(H) reports to the Surgeon General. * Surgeon

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star " admiral" rank. It is often rega ...

Lionel Jarvis (2008–2011) *

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Jeremy Rowan (2011–2014) * Surgeon

Alasdair Walker Surgeon Vice-Admiral Alasdair James Walker, (22 June 1956 – 1 June 2019) was a British medical doctor and senior Royal Navy officer. He served as Surgeon-General of the British Armed Forces. Early life and education From 1965 to 1974, Walk ...

(2014–2015) *

Martin Bricknell Lieutenant General Martin Charles Marshall Bricknell, is a British physician and former British Army officer. He served as Surgeon General of the British Armed Forces from 2018 to 2019. Early life and education Martin Bricknell studied medicine ...

(2015–2018)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability & Force Design)

* Air Vice-Marshal Graeme A. Robertson (1994–1996) * Rear-Admiral Nigel R. Essenhigh (1996–1998) * Major-General John P. Kiszely (1998–2001) * Rear-Admiral Rory A.I. McLean (2001–2004) * Rear-Admiral Timothy J.H. Laurence (2004–2007) * Air Vice-Marshal Kevin J. Leeson (2007–2009) * Rear-Admiral Alan D. Richards (2009–2011) * Major-General

Mark Poffley Lieutenant General Sir Mark William Poffley, (born 1960) is a former senior British Army officer. Military career Poffley was commissioned into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1985. After seeing action in the Gulf War and then in the Bosnian W ...

(2011–2014) * Rear Admiral

Tim Fraser Admiral Sir Timothy Peter Fraser, is a retired senior Royal Navy officer who served as Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff from May 2019 to August 2022. Early life Fraser was educated at Lord Williams's School, a comprehensive school in Thame, Ox ...

(2014–2017) * Air Vice-Marshal

Richard Knighton Air Marshal Sir Richard John Knighton, (born 1969) is a senior Royal Air Force officer and engineer. Since May 2022, he has served as Deputy Commander Capability at Air Command. Previously, he served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (2015 t ...

(2017–2018) * Major-General

Robert Magowan Lieutenant General Robert Andrew Magowan, (born 12 September 1967) is a senior Royal Marines officer who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability) since May 2022. He previously served as Commandant Gene ...

(2018–2020) * Rear Admiral

Hugh Beard Rear Admiral Hugh Dominic Beard, (born 28 December 1967) is a senior Royal Navy officer. He served as Third Sea Lord from 2018 to 2020, and as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability & Force Design) from 2020 to 2022. Early life and e ...

(2020-2022) * Major-General

David Eastman David Harold Eastman (born 29 September 1945) is a former public servant from Canberra, Australia. In 1995, he was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester and was sentenced to life ...

(2022-Present)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy) later, Defence Engagement

* Major-General Alexander J.S. Storrie (2011–2013) * Rear-Admiral Simon J. Ancona (2013–2017) * Major-General Giles P. Hill (2017–2019) * Major-General Stephen McMahon (2019-2020) * Air Vice-Marshal Alastair P.T. Smith (2020-Present)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Intelligence Capability)

The ACDS(IC) reports to the

Chief of Defence Intelligence Defence Intelligence (DI) is an organisation within the United Kingdom intelligence community which focuses on gathering and analysing military intelligence. It differs from the UK's intelligence agencies ( MI6, GCHQ and MI5) in that it is an ...

. *

Jerry Thomas (2009–2012)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments)/(Operations, now Operations & Commitments)

David Brown (1980–1982) *

Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal (AVM) is a two-star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...

Clive Loader Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Robert Loader, (born 24 September 1953) is a British politician and retired senior Royal Air Force officer. He was the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner from 2012 until 2016. He served in the RAF from 1972 ...

(2002–2004) *

Nick Houghton General John Nicholas Reynolds Houghton, Baron Houghton of Richmond, ( ; born 18 October 1954) is a retired senior British Army officer and former Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the British Armed Forces. He was appointed CDS in July 2013, ...

(2004–2005) * Major General

Chris Nickols Air Marshal Christopher Mark Nickols, (born 23 July 1956) is a retired senior officer in the Royal Air Force, whose final appointment was Chief of Defence Intelligence. Prior to that he served as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations ...

(2005–2008) * Air Vice-Marshal

Andrew Pulford Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Douglas Pulford, (born 22 March 1958) is a retired senior Royal Air Force (RAF) commander. A helicopter pilot with operational service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and Iraq War, Pulford commanded RAF Odiham ...

(2008–2010) * Major General

David Capewell Lieutenant General Sir David Andrew Capewell, (born 21 August 1959) is a retired Royal Marines officer who served as Chief of Joint Operations from 2011 to 2015. Early life and education Capewell was born on 21 August 1959 in Huddersfield, York ...

(2010–2011) * Air Vice-Marshal Bob Judson (2011–2013) * Major General

Patrick Sanders Patrick Elliot Sanders (born August 27, 1985) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Club Ferro Carril Oeste of the Argentine Liga Nacional de Básquet. He played college basketball for UC-Irvine. College career ...

(2013–2015) * Air Vice-Marshal

Edward Stringer Air Marshal Edward Jackson Stringer, is a senior Royal Air Force officer. Since April 2018 he has served as Director-General of the Defence Academy. He also served as Director-General of Joint Force Development, Strategic Command from April 2 ...

(2015–2017) * Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Turner (2017–2019) * Major General Charles Stickland (2019–2021) * Air Vice-Marshal

Allan Marshall Allan Marshall (9 November 1851 – 31 March 1915) was a New Zealand river captain and river engineer. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Pou and Waikato iwi. He was born in Mercer in the North Island The North Island, als ...

(2021–present)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability)

Since 1992, the

Defence Services Secretary The Defence Services Secretary is a senior member of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. Responsibilities The Defence Services Secretary is the senior member of the Royal Household responsible for liaison between the Sove ...

has usually holds the appointment of ACDS(P) as a secondary role. *

Brian Pennicott (1992–1994) *

Peter John Harding (1994–1998) *

Rodney Lees (1998–2001) * Major General Christopher Elliot (2001–2004) * Air Vice-Marshal

David Pocock David Willmer Pocock (born 23 April 1988) is an Australian politician and former professional rugby union player. Raised in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Pocock moved to Australia as a teenager and played for the Australia national rugby team. He played p ...

(2004–2005) * Rear Admiral Peter Wilkinson (2005–2007) * Major General

Matthew Sykes Major General Richard Matthew McQueen Sykes CVO (born 1955) is a retired senior British Army officer. From 2010 to 2014 he was group chief executive of Elizabeth Finn Care, a large charity providing relief from poverty in the UK. A former Britis ...

(2009–2010) * Air Vice-Marshal David Murray (2010–2012) * Rear Admiral Simon Williams (2012–2015) * Major General

Richard Nugee Lieutenant General Richard Edward Nugee, CB, CVO, CBE (born 3 June 1963) is a retired senior British Army officer. He served in several senior roles including Defence Services Secretary (2015–2016) and Chief of Defence People (2016–2020), be ...

(2015–2016) * Air Vice-Marshal

Garry Tunnicliffe Air Vice-Marshal Garry Tunnicliffe, (born 14 October 1966) is a senior Royal Air Force officer who served as Defence Services Secretary from 2016 to 2019. Early life and education Tunnicliffe was educated at Devonport High School for Boys, D ...

(2016–2019) * Rear-Admiral

James Macleod Lieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod (c. September 25, 1836 – September 5, 1894), born in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was a militia officer, lawyer, North-West Mounted Police officer, magistrate, judge, and politician in Albert ...

(2019–2022) * Rear-Admiral

Philip Hally Rear Admiral Philip John Hally, is a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, People Transformation. Naval career Hally joined the Royal Navy on 18 September 1991. He served as logistics officer on the aircra ...

(2022- present)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy)

John Gingell Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell, (3 February 1925 – 10 December 2009) was a senior Royal Air Force commander and Gentleman usher of the Black Rod. Military career The son of Ernest (1895–1981) and Hilda (née Attwood; 1894–1957) Ginge ...

(1975–1978) *

Jock Slater (1985–1987) * Air Vice-Marshal David Hobart (2001–2004) *

Andrew Stewart (2004–2006) * Rear Admiral

Alan Richards Vice Admiral Alan David Richards, (born 1958) is a retired Royal Navy officer who served as Chief of Defence Intelligence from 2012 to 2015. Naval career Richards joined the Royal Navy in 1977.Jonathan Shaw (2009–2012)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets)

The ACDS(R&C) is the senior reservist of the

British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, ...

. They are responsible for tri-service policy relating to the reserves and cadet forces. The appointment was created in 2004. *

Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster Major General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, (22 December 1951 – 9 August 2016), was a British landowner, businessman, philanthropist, Territorial Army general, and peer. He was the son of Robert Grosvenor, 5th Duke of ...

(2004–2007) * Major General

Simon Lalor Major General Simon Francis Neil Lalor, CB, TD, VR (born 1956) is a British businessman. As a Territorial Army officer, he served as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) from 2007 to 2010. Military service On 6 March ...

(2007–2010) * Major General Greg Smith (2010–2013) * Major General John Crackett (2013–2016) * Major General

Ranald Munro Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Torquil Ian Munro, (born 1960) is the General Counsel for Lombard International Assurance, a life insurance company; he was a senior officer in the Army Reserve before transferring to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Career ...

(2016–2019) * Major General

Simon Brooks-Ward Major General Simon Howe Brooks-Ward, is a British event organiser and former senior Army Reserve officer. Through his company, The HPower Group, he is most well known for organising large-scale equestrian events worldwide. Military career B ...

(2019-2022) * Major General Marc Overton (2022–present)

References

External links

* {{cite web, last1=Mackie , first1=Colin , title=Ministry of Defence and Tri-Service Senior Appointments , url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf , website=gulabin.com , accessdate=4 December 2015 , format=pdf , date=November 2015 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033054/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf , archivedate=17 November 2015 British military appointments