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.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, said:
I’m delighted to congratulate Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on his
appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff, a post he will take up
on November 30th. Admiral Tony brings an unparalleled wealth of
experience to the role at a time of significant change for the
Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence. We are modernising to
address the challenges posed by an increasingly unstable world
and I know he will lead the Armed Forces with distinction in his
new post.
Admiral Tony has been an outstanding First Sea Lord and Chief of
Naval Staff overseeing a period of transformation in the Royal
Navy that has seen more ships deployed, for longer, all over the
world. That includes the inaugural voyage of HMS Queen Elizabeth
at the head of our new Carrier Strike Group which set sail in
May.
There is much to be done, at home and abroad, the threats against
the UK and our allies are growing. Last year this Government made
the biggest investment in Defence since the Cold War, and
delivered a transformational vision for the future of the Armed
Forces through the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper. I
would like to thank General Sir Nick Carter for his leadership
and counsel as Chief of the Defence Staff. I now look forward to
working with Admiral Tony as we fulfil the ambitions we both
share for the nation’s Armed Forces.
Prime Minister , said:
I am delighted to welcome Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as the next
Chief of the Defence Staff. He has proven himself an outstanding
military leader as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff
and I have every confidence he will be an exceptional Chief of
the Defence Staff. Under his command we have more Royal Navy
sailors on the front line, more warships at sea – including our
two world class aircraft carriers – and we are leading a
shipbuilding renaissance which is creating jobs and protecting
lives around the UK.
This Government has made a clear commitment to create the Armed
Forces of the future, establishing the biggest defence investment
programme since the Cold War. Admiral Tony will lead the Armed
Forces at a time of incredible change while upholding the values
and standards that they are respected for around the world. I
know he will bring drive and dedication to the job and I look
forward to working with him.
We owe General Sir Nick Carter our deepest thanks for his decades
of steadfast duty spent keeping the UK, its citizens and our
allies safe. During his time as CDS, I have valued his wisdom and
support through moments of national crisis, including the Covid
pandemic. He leaves his post at the end of November with the
Armed Forces in excellent health, ready to face whatever
challenges tomorrow brings. I wish him every success in his next
endeavour.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said:
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 looking forward to working further with The and the rest of the Department’s senior
leadership team as we modernise the Armed Forces and implement
the Integrated Review. The Government has given us clarity and
additional resource to counter the threats we face as a nation.
It is now time to get on and deliver.
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.
A biography of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin can be
found here
