Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces (Ireland)


The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces is charged with the executive management of the Irish Defence Forces, and is the most senior military officer of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps branches. The Chief of Staff is appointed by the President of Ireland, who is the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, on the recommendation of the Minister for Defence subject to the approval of the Government of Ireland. The office of the Chief of Staff consists of his personal staff, a strategic planning office and a public relations section.
The Defence Forces Chief of Staff sits on the government's National Security Committee.
The Chief of Staff delegates remaining executive duties to two Deputy Chiefs of Staff and one Assistant Chief of Staff ;
The current Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces is Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM of the Naval Service. Vice Admiral Mellett assumed the role on 29 September 2015.

Current General Staff of the Defence Forces

Overseas

Brigade Commanders

The country is divided into two areas for administrative and operational reasons, and in each area there is an Irish Army infantry brigade. The two brigade group structure envisages distinct operational areas of responsibility for each of the brigades and is supported in their responsibilities by the Naval Service and Air Corps. Each of the Brigade formations and the Air Corps are commanded by a Brigadier General, while the Naval Service is commanded by a Commodore;
PositionBranchAbbreviationPhotographIncumbent
General Officer Commanding 1st Brigade GOC 1 Brigade Brigadier General Patrick Flynn
General Officer Commanding 2nd Brigade GOC 2 Brigade Brigadier General Tony Cudmore
General Officer Commanding Defence Forces Training Centre GOC DFTC Brigadier General David Dignam
General Officer Commanding Air CorpsGOC Air Corps Brigadier General Rory O'Connor
Flag Officer Commanding Naval ServiceFOCNS Commodore Michael Malone

List of Irish Chiefs of Staff