New UK Chief of the Defence Staff appointed

General Sir Nicholas Houghton (stock image)

[Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown copyright]

19 March 2013 Ministry of Defence

General Sir Nicholas Houghton will succeed General Sir David Richards as the UK's next Chief of the Defence Staff in July 2013.

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of General Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB CBE ADC Gen to take over from General Sir David Richards GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen as the next Chief of the Defence Staff in July 2013.

General Sir Nicholas Houghton (stock image) [Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown copyright]

Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Defence, said:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of the successor to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Sir David Richards.

General Sir Nicholas Houghton will assume this role in July 2013. I look forward to working with Sir Nicholas as we continue radical reforms to the Ministry of Defence and deliver Future Force 2020.

I pay tribute to the leadership Sir David has shown as CDS during a period of significant change in the military environment while securing operational successes across the globe, including in Afghanistan and Libya.