“I am humbled to have been selected as the next Chief of the Defence Staff. It will be an immense privilege to lead our outstanding people who defend and protect the United Kingdom. I would like to thank General Sir Nick Carter for his leadership and wise stewardship of the UK’s Armed Forces over the last three years. I am honoured to be chosen to lead the Armed Forces in this exciting time and in a period of enormous change. The Prime Minister and Secretary of State have demanded reform and we must seize the opportunity the Government has given us and ensure we are a global force delivering for Global Britain.”
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin
07 October 2021
Defence Studies alumnus appointed as new Chief of Defence Staff
The Queen has approved the appointment of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as Chief of the Defence Staff
Today, Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin KCB ADC to take over from General Sir Nicholas Carter GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen as the next Chief of the Defence Staff, the first Naval appointee in 18 years.
A former student of King’s College London, Admiral Sir Radakin completed an MA in Defence Studies at the Defence Studies Department (DSD) in 2000, as part of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) 3. A Special Forces Veteran, he was made First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff in June 2019 and will lead the Armed Forces as it undergoes major reforms following the publication of the Integrated Defence Review earlier this year.
Now supporting ACSC 25, the flourishing Masters course has a record number of enrolments, continuing to capitalise on DSD’s unique academic-military partnership with the UK Defence Academy at the forefront of professional military education internationally. With academic staff as world-leading experts and pioneers in their fields, the course continuously evolves in response to the evolving needs of military education in an everchanging environment.