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). They work in the Ministry of Defence.

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Health)
The ACDS(H) reports to the Surgeon General.


 * Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis (2008–2011)
 * Major General Jeremy Rowan (2011–2014)
 * Surgeon Rear Admiral Alasdair Walker (2014–2015)
 * Major General Martin Bricknell (2015-present)

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. Kiszley (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 W. Poffley (2011-2014)
 * Rear Admiral Timothy Fraser (2014–2017)
 * Air Vice-Marshal Richard Knighton (2017-Present)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Intelligence Capability)
The ACDS(IC) reports to the Chief of Defence Intelligence.


 * Major General Jerry Thomas (2009–2012)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations)

 * Rear Admiral David Brown (1980–1982)
 * Air Vice-Marshal Clive Loader (2002–2004)
 * 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 (2013–2015)
 * Air Vice-Marshal Edward Stringer (2015–present)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel)
Since 1992, the Defence Services Secretary has usually holds the appointment of ACDS(P) as a secondary role.


 * Major General Brian Pennicott (1992–1994)
 * Air Vice-Marshal Peter John Harding (1994–1998)
 * Rear Admiral Rodney Lees (1998–2001)
 * Major General Christopher Elliot (2001–2004)
 * Air Vice-Marshal David Pocock (2004–2005)
 * Rear Admiral Peter Wilkinson (2005–2007)
 * Major General Matthew Sykes (2009–2010)
 * Air Vice-Marshal David Murray (2010–2012)
 * Rear Admiral Simon Williams (2012–2015)
 * Major General Richard Nugee (2015–2016)

Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Policy)

 * Air Vice-Marshal John Gingell (1975–1978)
 * Rear Admiral Jock Slater (1985–1987)
 * Major General Andrew Stewart (2004–2006)
 * Rear Admiral Alan Richards (2006–2009)
 * Major General 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. He/she is responsible for tri-service policy relating to the reserves and cadet forces. The appointment was created in 2004.


 * Major General Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster (2004–2007)
 * Major General Simon Lalor (2007–2010)
 * Major General Greg Smith (2010–2013)
 * Major General John Crackett (2013–2016)
 * Major General Ranald Munro (2016-present)