Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
| Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|---|---|
since June 2024 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Abbreviation | VCDS |
| Member of | Defence Council Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Reports to | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence |
| Appointer | Prime Minister Subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council |
| Precursor | Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Formation | February 1964 |
| First holder | Air Chief Marshal Sir Alfred Earle |
| Website | Official website |
Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) is the title of the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces. It is the second-most senior position within the British Armed Forces. The position was titled Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff before 1964.