View source for Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff

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]] ([[rear admiral]], [[air vice-marshal]], or [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|major general]]). They work in the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Health)==
{{incompletelist|date=December 2015}}
The ACDS(H) reports to the [[Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)|Surgeon General]].
* Surgeon [[Rear Admiral]] [[Lionel Jarvis]] (2008–2011)
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Jeremy Rowan]] (2011–2014)
* Surgeon [[Rear Admiral]] [[Alasdair Walker]] (2014–2015)
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Martin Bricknell]] (2015–2018)
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability & Force Design)==
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Graeme Robertson (RAF officer)|Graeme A. Robertson]] (1994–1996)
* Rear-Admiral [[Nigel Essenhigh|Nigel R. Essenhigh]] (1996–1998)
* Major-General [[John Kiszely|John P. Kiszely]] (1998–2001)
* Rear-Admiral [[Rory McLean|Rory A.I. McLean]] (2001–2004)
* Rear-Admiral [[Timothy Laurence|Timothy J.H. Laurence]] (2004–2007)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Kevin Leeson|Kevin J. Leeson]] (2007–2009)
* Rear-Admiral [[Alan Richards|Alan D. Richards]] (2009–2011)
* Major-General [[Mark Poffley]] (2011–2014)
* Rear Admiral [[Tim Fraser]] (2014–2017)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Richard Knighton]] (2017–2018)
* Major-General [[Robert Magowan]] (2018–2020)
* Rear Admiral [[Hugh Beard]] (2020–2022)
* Major-General [[David Eastman (British Army officer)|David Eastman]] (2022–2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/11495/pdf/|title=Defence Committee: Oral evidence: The US, UK and NATO, HC 184|publisher=House of Commons|access-date=1 December 2022}}</ref>
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Tim Jones (RAF officer)|Tim Jones]] (2024–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 Hill|Giles P. Hill]] (2017–2019)
* Major-General Stephen McMahon (2019–2020)
* Air Vice-Marshal Alastair P.T. Smith (2020–2022)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=63170 |date=10 November 2020 |page=19047 |supp= y}}</ref>
* Major General Julian Buczacki (2022-2023)
* Major General Adrian P. Reilly (2023-present)
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Intelligence Capability)==
{{incompletelist|date=December 2015}}
The ACDS(IC) reports to the [[Chief of Defence Intelligence]].
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Jerry Thomas (Royal Marines officer)|Jerry Thomas]] (2009–2012)<ref>{{cite web|title=Major General (Retd) Jerry Thomas|url=http://www.exeter.ac.uk/strategy/about/honoraryappointments/jerrythomas/|website=Strategy and Security Institute|publisher=University of Exeter|accessdate=4 December 2015}}</ref>
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments)/(Operations, now Operations & Commitments)==
{{incompletelist|date=December 2015}}
* [[Rear Admiral]] [[David Brown (Royal Navy officer)|David Brown]] (1980–1982)
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Clive Loader]] (2002–2004)
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Nick Houghton]] (2004–2005)
* Major General [[Chris Nickols]] (2005–2008)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Andrew Pulford]] (2008–2010)
* Major General [[David Capewell]] (2010–2011)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Bob Judson]] (2011–2013)
* Major General [[Patrick Sanders (British Army officer)|Patrick Sanders]] (2013–2015)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Edward Stringer]] (2015–2017)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Andrew Turner (RAF officer)|Andrew Turner]] (2017–2019)
* Major General [[Charles Stickland]] (2019–2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=Ministry of Defence and Tri-Service Appointments|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf|website=Strategy and Security Institute|publisher=www.gulabin.com|accessdate=26 June 2019}}</ref>
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Allan Marshall (RAF officer)|Allan Marshall]] (2021–2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Senior Appointments: 2021 |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/ |website=Royal Air Force |access-date=2 November 2021 |language=en-gb |date=1 November 2021}}</ref>
* Rear Admiral [[Steve Moorhouse]] (2024-present)
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability)==
{{incompletelist|date=December 2015}}
Since 1992, the [[Defence Services Secretary]] has usually holds the appointment of ACDS(P) as a secondary role.
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Brian Pennicott]] (1992–1994)
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Peter Harding (RAF officer, born 1940)|Peter John Harding]] (1994–1998)
* [[Rear Admiral]] [[Rodney Lees]] (1998–2001)
* Major General [[Christopher Haslett Elliott|Christopher Elliot]] (2001–2004)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[David Pocock (RAF officer)|David Pocock]] (2004–2005)
* Rear Admiral [[Peter Wilkinson (Royal Navy officer)|Peter Wilkinson]] (2005–2007)
* Major General [[Matthew Sykes]] (2009–2010)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[David Murray (RAF officer)|David Murray]] (2010–2012)
* Rear Admiral [[Simon Williams (Royal Navy officer)|Simon Williams]] (2012–2015)
* Major General [[Richard Nugee]] (2015–2016)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[Garry Tunnicliffe]] (2016–2019)
* Rear-Admiral [[James Macleod (Royal Navy officer)|James Macleod]] (2019–2022)
* Rear-Admiral [[Philip Hally]] (2022–2023)
* Major General [[Eldon Millar]] (2023–2024)
* Major General [[Lisa Keetley]] (2024–present)
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy)==
{{incompletelist|date=November 2024}}
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[John Gingell]] (1975–1978)
* [[Rear Admiral]] [[Jock Slater]] (1985–1987)
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] Eric Macey (1987–1989)
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[John Willis (RAF officer)|John Willis]] (1989–1990)
* [[Rear Admiral]] [[Jonathan Tod]] (1990–1994)
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] David Henderson (1994–1995)
* [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Joe French]] (1995–1997)
* [[Major General]] [[Christopher Drewry]] (1997–2000)
* [[Major General]] [[John Reith (British Army officer)|John Reith]] (2000–2001)
* Air Vice-Marshal [[David Anthony Hobart|David Hobart]] (2001–2004)<ref>{{cite web |title=Hobart, David Anthony |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-44422 |website=[[Who's Who 2019]] |publisher=Oxford University Press |accessdate=22 March 2019 |date=1 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Andrew Stewart (British Army officer)|Andrew Stewart]] (2004–2006)
* Rear Admiral [[Alan Richards]] (2006–2009)
* Major General [[Jonathan Shaw (British Army officer)|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]]. They are responsible for tri-service policy relating to the reserves and cadet forces. The appointment was created in 2004.
* [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster]] (2004–2007)<ref>{{cite web|title=Duke of Westminster and the Royal Armoured Corps |url=http://www.royalcorpsnews.co.uk/duke-of-westminster.html |publisher=Royal Armoured Corps News |accessdate=10 June 2013 |date=20 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217194446/http://www.royalcorpsnews.co.uk/duke-of-westminster.html |archivedate=17 February 2012 }}</ref>
* Major General [[Simon Lalor]] (2007–2010)<ref name="LG 6 March 2007">{{London Gazette |issue=58264 |date=6 March 2007 |page=3233 |supp=y }}</ref>
* Major General [[Greg Smith (British Army officer)|Greg Smith]] (2010–2013)<ref name="LG 30 March 2010">{{London Gazette |issue=59378 |date=30 March 2010 |page=5527 |supp=y }}</ref>
* Major General [[John Crackett]] (2013–2016)<ref name="LG 2 April 2013">{{London Gazette |issue=60463 |date=2 April 2013 |page=6324 |supp=y }}</ref>
* Major General [[Ranald Munro]] (2016–2019)
* Major General [[Simon Brooks-Ward]] (2019–2022)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/12167 |title=Army Reserve Regional RD Staff Appointments 2019 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2 August 2019 |website=army.mod.uk |publisher=British Army |access-date=6 October 2019 |quote=ACDS (Reserves & Cadets) Maj Gen Simon Brooks-Ward is looking to appoint a suitably qualified officer as his ADC.}}</ref>
* Major General Marc Overton (2022–present)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 63734|date=21 June 2022 | |page=11655|  |supp=y }}</ref>
==Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Nuclear, Chemical, Biological)==
* Rear Admiral [[John Gower (British naval officer)|John Gower]] (2011-2014)<ref>{{cite web |url=  https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/person/john-gower/|title= John Gower (1960-2024) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher=European Leadership Network|access-date= |quote=}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7edb2140f0b6230268bf81/2014-05527_2_3_star_RN_officers_redacted_scanned.pdf|title= Release of information|location= |publisher= Ministry of Defense Navy Command Headquarters|date = October 13, 2014}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==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 }}
[[Category:British military appointments]]