David Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux
General David Julian Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux, is a retired senior British Army officer and Peer who was formerly the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces. He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup in this role on 29 October 2010.
David Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux
General Sir David Richards (right) during his tenure as ISAF commander, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in 2007
General Sir David Richards with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in 2013
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the British Armed Forces and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The chief of the defence staff is based at the Ministry of Defence and works alongside the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the ministry's senior civil servant. The Chief of Defence is the highest ranking officer to currently serve in the armed forces.
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
Image: Air Vice Marshal Dickson near Venafro, Italy (cropped)
Image: Lord Mountbatten Naval in colour Allan Warren
Image: General Sir Richard Hull speaks to officers (cropped)
