Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies

The Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies, formerly the Commandant of the Imperial Defence College, is the head of the Royal College of Defence Studies, a British military staff college which instructs senior officers, diplomats, and civil servants.

The Commandant was a senior serving military officer between 1972 and 2001: the post rotated through the three branches of the armed forces in turn. In 1971, the old Imperial Defence College became the Royal College of Defence Studies. In 1991, the post was downgraded to three-star, and then in 2001, it was opened up to competition through public advertisement. Subsequent incumbents were all senior retired military officers, until the appointment of a diplomat in 2014. In 2019, a civil service job advert stated the post would be at SCS2 pay grade, or Two-star rank or NATO OF-7 rank.[1]

List of Commandants

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Commandants have included:[2]

Commandant of the Imperial Defence College

Note: The post was vacant during World War II

Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies

References

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  1. ^ "Commandant RCDS - UK Civil Service Jobs". civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk. UK Civil Service Jobs. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019. Job Title Commandant, Royal College of Defence Studies
  2. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Other Establishments - Schools and Staff Colleges Archived 2002-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Rear Admiral J M L Kingwell CBE (John) Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies". da.mod.uk. UK Defence Academy. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020. He joined RCDS in May 2016 as Deputy Commandant and stepped up to become Commandant in July 2019.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Sir George Norton appointed as next Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS)". Ministry of Defence UK. London. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.