Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)


The Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff is the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces. The position was titled Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff before 1964. From 1966 to 1978 the post was occupied by a 3 star officer. From 1978 onwards the post has been held by a 4 star officer.

List of Vice Chiefs of the Defence Staff

These are:
Rank
While in appointment		NameBranchAppointedRelinquished appointment
Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle GBE, CBFebruary 1964May 1966
Lieutenant-General Sir George Cole KCB, CBEMay 1966November 1967
Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Hogg KCB, DSC & BarNovember 1967March 1970
Air Marshal Sir John Barraclough KCB, CBE, DFC, AFCMarch 1970February 1972
Lieutenant-General Sir John Gibbon GCB, OBEFebruary 1972January 1974
Air Marshal Sir Peter Le Cheminant KCB, DFC & BarJanuary 1974January 1976
Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Leach KCBJanuary 1976March 1977
Vice-Admiral Sir Anthony Morton KCBMarch 1977April 1978
General Sir Edwin Bramall KCB, OBE, MCApril 1978May 1979
General Sir Patrick Howard-Dobson GCBMay 1979June 1981
Air Chief Marshal Sir David Evans GCB, CBEJune 1981June 1983
Admiral Sir Peter Herbert KCB, OBEJune 1983January 1985
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Harding KCBJanuary 1985August 1985
Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine KCBAugust 1985October 1987
General Sir Richard Vincent KCB, DSOOctober 1987March 1991
Admiral Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCBMarch 1991January 1993
Admiral Sir John Slater GCB, LVOJanuary 1993April 1995
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Willis GBE, KCBApril 1995October 1997
Admiral Sir Peter Abbott GBE, KCBOctober 1997May 2001
Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall GBE, KCBMay 2001July 2005
General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman GBE, KCBJuly 2005May 2009
General Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB, CBEMay 2009May 2013
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach GBE, KCBMay 2013May 2016
General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB, DSO & Bar, OBE, ADCMay 2016May 2019
Admiral Timothy Fraser, CBMay 2019Present