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Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)

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Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff
Badge of the Ministry of Defence
since June 2024
Ministry of Defence
AbbreviationVCDS
Member ofDefence Council
Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports toChief of the Defence Staff
NominatorSecretary of State for Defence
AppointerPrime Minister
Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council
PrecursorDeputy Chief of the Defence Staff
FormationFebruary 1964
First holderAir Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle
WebsiteOfficial website

The Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) is the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.[1] It is also the second most senior position within the British Armed Forces. The position was titled Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff before 1964.[2] From 1966 to 1978 the post was occupied by a 3 star officer. From 1978 the post has been held by a 4 star officer.

Responsibilities

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The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff deputises for the Chief of the Defence Staff and has responsibility for running the armed forces aspects of defence business, principally through the central staff. VCDS is responsible for:

  • Deputising for CDS (in particular as Military Strategic Commander)
  • Co-ordinating delivery of top-level decisions-making, implementation and monitoring progress
  • Leading senior military judgement for the future development of the armed forces including the definition and delivery for military capability requirements; and being capability sponsor for capital projects and programmes
  • Defence Board lead for military personnel and training (including Reserves)
  • Leading the preparation of the armed forces input to SDSRs
  • (with CDS) conduct of the military strategic dialogue[3]

List of Vice Chiefs of the Defence Staff

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These are:[2]

No. Picture Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Took office Left office Defence branch
1
Sir Alfred Earle GBE, CB
Earle, AlfredAir Chief Marshal
Sir Alfred Earle GBE, CB
(1907–1990)
February 1964May 1966 Royal Air Force
2
Sir George Cole KCB, CBE
Cole, GeorgeLieutenant General
Sir George Cole KCB, CBE
(1911–1973)
May 1966November 1967 British Army
3
Sir Ian Hogg KCB, DSC & Bar
Hogg, IanVice Admiral
Sir Ian Hogg KCB, DSC & Bar
(1911–2003)
November 1967March 1970 Royal Navy
4
Sir John Barraclough KCB, CBE, DFC, AFC
Barraclough, JohnAir Marshal
Sir John Barraclough KCB, CBE, DFC, AFC
(1918–2008)
March 1970February 1972 Royal Air Force
5
Sir John Gibbon GCB, OBE
Gibbon, JohnLieutenant General
Sir John Gibbon GCB, OBE
(1917–1997)
February 1972January 1974 British Army
6
Sir Peter Le Cheminant KCB, DFC & Bar
Le Cheminant, PeterAir Marshal
Sir Peter Le Cheminant KCB, DFC & Bar
(1920–2018)
January 1974January 1976 Royal Air Force
7
Sir Henry Leach KCB
Leach, HenryVice Admiral
Sir Henry Leach KCB
(1923–2011)
January 1976March 1977 Royal Navy
8
Sir Anthony Morton KCB
Morton, AnthonyVice Admiral
Sir Anthony Morton KCB
(1923–2006)
March 1977April 1978 Royal Navy
9
Sir Edwin Bramall KCB, OBE, MC
Bramall, EdwinGeneral
Sir Edwin Bramall KCB, OBE, MC
(1923–2019)
April 1978May 1979 British Army
10
Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson GCB
Howard-Dobson, PatrickGeneral
Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson GCB
(1921–2009)
May 1979June 1981 British Army
11
Sir David Evans GCB, CBE
Evans, DavidAir Chief Marshal
Sir David Evans GCB, CBE
(1924–2020)
June 1981June 1983 Royal Air Force
12
Sir Peter Herbert KCB, OBE
Herbert, PeterAdmiral
Sir Peter Herbert KCB, OBE
(1929–2019)
June 1983January 1985 Royal Navy
13
Sir Peter Harding KCB
Harding, PeterAir Chief Marshal
Sir Peter Harding KCB
(1933–2021)
January 1985August 1985 Royal Air Force
14
Sir Patrick Hine KCB
Hine, PatrickAir Chief Marshal
Sir Patrick Hine KCB
(born 1932)
August 1985October 1987 Royal Air Force
15
Sir Richard Vincent KCB, DSO
Vincent, RichardGeneral
Sir Richard Vincent KCB, DSO
(1931–2018)
October 1987March 1991 British Army
16
Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCB
Bathurst, BenjaminAdmiral
Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCB
(born 1936)
March 1991January 1993 Royal Navy
17
Sir John Slater GCB, LVO
Slater, JohnAdmiral
Sir John Slater GCB, LVO
(born 1938)
January 1993April 1995 Royal Navy
18
Sir John Willis GBE, KCB
Willis, JohnAir Chief Marshal
Sir John Willis GBE, KCB
(1937–2008)
April 1995October 1997 Royal Air Force
19
Sir Peter Abbott GBE, KCB
Abbott, PeterAdmiral
Sir Peter Abbott GBE, KCB
(1942–2015)
October 1997May 2001 Royal Navy
20
Sir Anthony Bagnall GBE, KCB
Bagnall, AnthonyAir Chief Marshal
Sir Anthony Bagnall GBE, KCB
(born 1945)
May 2001July 2005 Royal Air Force
21
Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman GBE, KCB
Granville-Chapman, TimothyGeneral
Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman GBE, KCB
(born 1947)
July 2005May 2009 British Army
22
Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB, CBE
Houghton, NicholasGeneral
Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB, CBE
(born 1954)
May 2009May 2013 British Army
23
Sir Stuart Peach GBE, KCB
Peach, StuartAir Chief Marshal
Sir Stuart Peach GBE, KCB
(born 1956)
May 2013May 2016 Royal Air Force
24
Sir Gordon Messenger KCB, DSO & Bar, OBE
Messenger, GordonGeneral
Sir Gordon Messenger KCB, DSO & Bar, OBE
(born 1962)
May 2016May 2019 Royal Marines
25
Sir Timothy Fraser KCB
Fraser, TimAdmiral
Sir Timothy Fraser KCB
May 2019September 2022 Royal Navy
26
Gwyn Jenkins CB, OBE
Jenkins, GwynGeneral
Gwyn Jenkins CB, OBE
August 2022[4]June 2024 Royal Marines
27
Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB, ADC
Nesmith, SharonGeneral
Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB, ADC
June 2024[5] British Army

References

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  1. ^ Vice Chief of Defence Staff Ministry of Defence
  2. ^ a b "V: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND TRI-SERVICE SENIOR APPOINTMENTS" (PDF). Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  3. ^ "General Gwyn Jenkins CB OBE ADC". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 June 2023. Text was copied from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  4. ^ "No. 63818". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 2022. p. 17754.
  5. ^ "General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB ADC". Ministry of Defense. gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2024.