# Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff

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Senior appointment in the British armed forces

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](/source/Two-star_rank) ([rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral), [air vice-marshal](/source/Air_vice-marshal), or [major general](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom))). They work in the [Ministry of Defence](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(United_Kingdom)).

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Health)

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2015)

The ACDS(H) reports to the [Surgeon General](/source/Surgeon-General_(United_Kingdom)).

- Surgeon [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [Lionel Jarvis](/source/Lionel_Jarvis) (2008–2011)

- [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Jeremy Rowan](/source/Jeremy_Rowan) (2011–2014)

- Surgeon [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [Alasdair Walker](/source/Alasdair_Walker) (2014–2015)

- [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Martin Bricknell](/source/Martin_Bricknell) (2015–2018)

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

- Air Vice-Marshal [Graeme A. Robertson](/source/Graeme_Robertson_(RAF_officer)) (1994–1996)

- Rear-Admiral [Nigel R. Essenhigh](/source/Nigel_Essenhigh) (1996–1998)

- Major-General [John P. Kiszely](/source/John_Kiszely) (1998–2001)

- Rear-Admiral [Rory A.I. McLean](/source/Rory_McLean) (2001–2004)

- Rear-Admiral [Timothy J.H. Laurence](/source/Timothy_Laurence) (2004–2007)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Kevin J. Leeson](/source/Kevin_Leeson) (2007–2009)

- Rear-Admiral [Alan D. Richards](/source/Alan_Richards) (2009–2011)

- Major-General [Mark Poffley](/source/Mark_Poffley) (2011–2014)

- Rear Admiral [Tim Fraser](/source/Tim_Fraser) (2014–2017)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Rich Knighton](/source/Rich_Knighton) (2017–2018)

- Major-General [Robert Magowan](/source/Robert_Magowan) (2018–2020)

- Rear Admiral [Hugh Beard](/source/Hugh_Beard) (2020–2022)

- Major-General [David Eastman](/source/David_Eastman_(British_Army_officer)) (2022–2024)[1]

- Air Vice-Marshal [Tim Jones](/source/Tim_Jones_(RAF_officer)) (2024–2025)

- Major-General [Alex Turner](/source/Alex_Turner_(British_Army_officer)) (2025–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](/source/Giles_Hill) (2017–2019)

- Major-General Stephen McMahon (2019–2020)

- Air Vice-Marshal Alastair P.T. Smith (2020–2022)[2]

- Major General Julian Buczacki (2022-2025)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Mark Flewin](/source/Mark_Flewin) (2025-present)

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Intelligence Capability)

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2015)

The ACDS(IC) reports to the [Chief of Defence Intelligence](/source/Chief_of_Defence_Intelligence).

- [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Jerry Thomas](/source/Jerry_Thomas_(Royal_Marines_officer)) (2009–2012)[3]

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Intelligence Collection)

- Major General Michael Laurie CBE (2002-2003)[4][5][6]

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

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2015)

- [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [David Brown](/source/David_Brown_(Royal_Navy_officer)) (1980–1982)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) [Clive Loader](/source/Clive_Loader) (2002–2004)

- [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Nick Houghton](/source/Nick_Houghton) (2004–2005)

- Major General [Chris Nickols](/source/Chris_Nickols) (2005–2008)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Andrew Pulford](/source/Andrew_Pulford) (2008–2010)

- Major General [David Capewell](/source/David_Capewell) (2010–2011)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Bob Judson](/source/Bob_Judson) (2011–2013)

- Major General [Patrick Sanders](/source/Patrick_Sanders_(British_Army_officer)) (2013–2015)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Edward Stringer](/source/Edward_Stringer) (2015–2017)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Andrew Turner](/source/Andrew_Turner_(RAF_officer)) (2017–2019)

- Major General [Charles Stickland](/source/Charles_Stickland) (2019–2021)[7]

- Air Vice-Marshal [Allan Marshall](/source/Allan_Marshall_(RAF_officer)) (2021–2024)[8]

- Rear Admiral [Steve Moorhouse](/source/Steve_Moorhouse) (2024–2025)[9]

- Major General [Daniel Reeve](/source/Daniel_Reeve) (2025–present)

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel Capability)

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2015)

Since 1992, the [Defence Services Secretary](/source/Defence_Services_Secretary) has usually holds the appointment of ACDS(P) as a secondary role.

- [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Brian Pennicott](/source/Brian_Pennicott) (1992–1994)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) [Peter John Harding](/source/Peter_Harding_(RAF_officer%2C_born_1940)) (1994–1998)

- [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [Rodney Lees](/source/Rodney_Lees) (1998–2001)

- Major General [Christopher Elliot](/source/Christopher_Haslett_Elliott) (2001–2004)

- Air Vice-Marshal [David Pocock](/source/David_Pocock_(RAF_officer)) (2004–2005)

- Rear Admiral [Peter Wilkinson](/source/Peter_Wilkinson_(Royal_Navy_officer)) (2005–2007)

- Major General [Matthew Sykes](/source/Matthew_Sykes) (2009–2010)

- Air Vice-Marshal [David Murray](/source/David_Murray_(RAF_officer)) (2010–2012)

- Rear Admiral [Simon Williams](/source/Simon_Williams_(Royal_Navy_officer)) (2012–2015)

- Major General [Richard Nugee](/source/Richard_Nugee) (2015–2016)

- Air Vice-Marshal [Garry Tunnicliffe](/source/Garry_Tunnicliffe) (2016–2019)

- Rear-Admiral [James Macleod](/source/James_Macleod_(Royal_Navy_officer)) (2019–2022)

- Rear-Admiral [Philip Hally](/source/Philip_Hally) (2022–2023)

- Major General [Eldon Millar](/source/Eldon_Millar) (2023–2024)

- Major General [Lisa Keetley](/source/Lisa_Keetley) (2024–present)

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy)

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2024)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) [John Gingell](/source/John_Gingell) (1975–1978)

- [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [Jock Slater](/source/Jock_Slater) (1985–1987)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) Eric Macey (1987–1989)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) [John Willis](/source/John_Willis_(RAF_officer)) (1989–1990)

- [Rear Admiral](/source/Rear_Admiral) [Jonathan Tod](/source/Jonathan_Tod) (1990–1994)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) David Henderson (1994–1995)

- [Air Vice-Marshal](/source/Air_Vice-Marshal) [Joe French](/source/Joe_French) (1995–1997)

- [Major General](/source/Major_General) [Christopher Drewry](/source/Christopher_Drewry) (1997–2000)

- [Major General](/source/Major_General) [John Reith](/source/John_Reith_(British_Army_officer)) (2000–2001)

- Air Vice-Marshal [David Hobart](/source/David_Anthony_Hobart) (2001–2004)[10]

- [Major General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Andrew Stewart](/source/Andrew_Stewart_(British_Army_officer)) (2004–2006)

- Rear Admiral [Alan Richards](/source/Alan_Richards) (2006–2009)

- Major General [Jonathan Shaw](/source/Jonathan_Shaw_(British_Army_officer)) (2009–2012)

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets)

The ACDS(R&C) is the senior reservist of the [British Armed Forces](/source/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](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) [Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster](/source/Gerald_Grosvenor%2C_6th_Duke_of_Westminster) (2004–2007)[11]

- Major General [Simon Lalor](/source/Simon_Lalor) (2007–2010)[12]

- Major General [Greg Smith](/source/Greg_Smith_(British_Army_officer)) (2010–2013)[13]

- Major General [John Crackett](/source/John_Crackett) (2013–2016)[14]

- Major General [Ranald Munro](/source/Ranald_Munro) (2016–2019)

- Major General [Simon Brooks-Ward](/source/Simon_Brooks-Ward) (2019–2022)[15]

- Major General [Marc Overton](/source/Marc_Overton) (2022–present)[16]

## Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Nuclear, Chemical, Biological)

- Rear Admiral [John Gower](/source/John_Gower_(British_naval_officer)) (2011-2014)[17][18]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Defence Committee: Oral evidence: The US, UK and NATO, HC 184"](https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/11495/pdf/). House of Commons. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["No. 63170"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63170/supplement/19047). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 10 November 2020. p. 19047.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Major General (Retd) Jerry Thomas"](http://www.exeter.ac.uk/strategy/about/honoraryappointments/jerrythomas/). *Strategy and Security Institute*. University of Exeter. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Wayback Machine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/https://humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk/warningsfromthearchive/files/original/e9858ce695ee0c3fd315a0a50cdb8ff8.pdf) (PDF). *web.archive.org*. Retrieved 2025-11-12. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: Cite uses generic title ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Wayback Machine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20251112193805/https://humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk/warningsfromthearchive/files/original/39acecebc7bf1818a3e4024055327e99.pdf) (PDF). *humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk*. Archived from [the original](https://humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk/warningsfromthearchive/files/original/39acecebc7bf1818a3e4024055327e99.pdf) (PDF) on 2025-11-12. Retrieved 2025-11-12. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: Cite uses generic title ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Iraq inquiry: Campbell dossier evidence questioned"](https://web.archive.org/web/20251112194159/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13371751). *BBC News*. Archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13371751) on 2025-11-12. Retrieved 2025-11-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ministry of Defence and Tri-Service Appointments"](http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf) (PDF). *Strategy and Security Institute*. www.gulabin.com. Retrieved 26 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Senior Appointments: 2021"](https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/). *Royal Air Force*. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [""Special honour" as Rear Admiral visits HMS Collingwood as Fareham Royal Navy base hosts marvellous ceremony"](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/parade-royal-navy-hms-collingwood-ceremony-5138394). *Portsmouth News*. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*Hobart, David Anthony*](http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-44422). Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U44422](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fww%2F9780199540884.013.U44422). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-954088-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-954088-4). Retrieved 22 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Duke of Westminster and the Royal Armoured Corps"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120217194446/http://www.royalcorpsnews.co.uk/duke-of-westminster.html). Royal Armoured Corps News. 20 September 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.royalcorpsnews.co.uk/duke-of-westminster.html) on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_6_March_2007_12-0)** ["No. 58264"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/58264/supplement/3233). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 6 March 2007. p. 3233.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_30_March_2010_13-0)** ["No. 59378"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/59378/supplement/5527). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 30 March 2010. p. 5527.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LG_2_April_2013_14-0)** ["No. 60463"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60463/supplement/6324). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 2 April 2013. p. 6324.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Army Reserve Regional RD Staff Appointments 2019"](https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/12167). *army.mod.uk*. British Army. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019. ACDS (Reserves & Cadets) Maj Gen Simon Brooks-Ward is looking to appoint a suitably qualified officer as his ADC.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["No. 63734"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63734/supplement/11655). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 21 June 2022. p. 11655.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["John Gower (1960-2024)"](https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/person/john-gower/). European Leadership Network.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Release of information"](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7edb2140f0b6230268bf81/2014-05527_2_3_star_RN_officers_redacted_scanned.pdf) (PDF). Ministry of Defense Navy Command Headquarters. October 13, 2014.

## External links

- Mackie, Colin (November 2015). ["Ministry of Defence and Tri-Service Senior Appointments"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033054/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf) (PDF). *gulabin.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf) (PDF) on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_Chief_of_the_Defence_Staff) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_Chief_of_the_Defence_Staff?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.