David Richards

Sir David Richards
Born 1952 (age 56–57)
General Sir David Richards (right) during his tenure as ISAF commander, with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1971–
Rank	General
Commands held	3rd Royal Horse Artillery 4th Armoured Brigade Allied Rapid Reaction Corps International Security Assistance Force
Battles/wars	Sierra Leone Civil War War in Afghanistan
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order

General Sir David Julian Richards KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC General (born 1952) is a British military commander, and was the overall commander of international forces in southern Afghanistan from July 2006 until 4 February 2007, when he was relieved by US General Dan McNeill. He was formerly Commander-in-Chief, Land Command and became Chief of the General Staff on 28 August 2009.

Early life

Richards attended Eastbourne College and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a Second Lieutenant in 1971.^[1] He then attended University College, Cardiff, graduating in 1974 with a degree in politics and economics.

Army career

He served with the Royal Artillery in the Far East, Germany and the United Kingdom, including three tours in Northern Ireland, and served on the staff of the 11th Armoured Brigade in Germany. He was promoted Captain in 1977.^[2] He attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1984. He returned to 11th Armoured Brigade to command a field battery in 47th Field Regiment. He then served as the Chief of Staff of the Berlin Brigade for two years, before being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 30 June 1989.^[3] He served as an instructor at the Staff College for three years, and was then given command of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.

In 1994 he joined the Ministry of Defence as Colonel Army Plans.^[4] In December 1995, after completing the Higher Command and Staff course, he was promoted Brigadier^[5] and then became Commander of the 4th Armoured Brigade in Germany. He became Chief of Joint Force Operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in 1998. In this role, as the default commander for short notice expeditionary operations, he commanded the UK Contingent in East Timor in 1999 and twice commanded a UK Joint Task Force in Sierra Leone in 2000.

In April 2001 he became Chief of Staff of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, with the rank of Major General.^[6] In 2002, he became Assistant Chief of the General Staff,^[7] and on 19 January 2005 became the Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, which carried promotion to Lieutenant General.^[8]

In July 2006, command of the international forces (the International Security Assistance Force) in southern Afghanistan was passed to NATO forces under his command and he was promoted to the acting rank of full General (4-star). In this capacity, Richards was the first British officer to command American forces since the Second World War.^[9] On returning from Afghanistan, he reverted to his previous rank of Lieutenant-General. On 1 February 2008 he was promoted to substantive General and appointed Commander-in-Chief, Land Command in succession to General Sir Redmond Watt,^[10][11] and on 12 June 2008 he was appointed Aide-de-Camp General to the Queen.^[12] On 17 October 2008, The Independent revealed his appointment as the next Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the Army.^[9] The Ministry of Defence later confirmed that he would take up the post in August 2009.^[13] In early August 2009, just before taking up his post, Richards was widely criticised when he claimed that British troops may have a role in Afghanistan for up to 40 years.^[14] General Sir Richard Dannatt handed over his appointment as Chief of the General Staff at midday on 28 August 2009 to Richards.^[15][16]

Recent Controversy

Allegations surfaced in September of a Labour plot to smear the General because his daughter worked for the Conservative Party UK. The threat to target the General, who had taken up his new job just nine days before most of the reports appeared, was widely reported to have been one of the real reasons that Labour MP Eric Joyce resigned as an aide to Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth. ^[17]

Courses and awards

Richards has attended the US Brigade Commanders, Combined Joint Force Land Component Commanders, and Joint Task Force Commanders (Pinnacle) Courses. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches for services in Northern Ireland,^[18] Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services in East Timor,^[19] and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for services in Sierra Leone (Operation Barras).^[20] He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the July 2007 operational and gallantry awards list for his services in Afghanistan.^[21][22] In addition to his orders, he has also been awarded campaign medals for Northern Ireland, East Timor (UN) and Operational Service Medals for Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. He also wears the Golden Jubilee Medal from 2002. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Royal Rifle Volunteers on 1 September 2003,^[23] Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery on 19 January 2005,^[24] and on 1 April 2007 he was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Brigade of Gurkhas.^[25]

Personal life

Richards lives near Salisbury. He and his wife Caroline have two daughters, Joanna and Pippa, both university postgraduates. He is a keen student of military history and a qualified offshore yachtsman (he is Admiral of the British Kiel Yacht Club).

Styles and Honours

• Mr David Richards (1952–1971)
• 2nd Lt. David Richards (1971–Lieutenant–1977)
• Capt. David Richards (1977–other ranks–1989)
• Lt. Col. David Richards (1989–1994)
• Col. David Richards (1994–1995)
• Brig. David Richards (1995–2000)
• Brig. David Richards CBE (2000–2001)
• Maj. Gen. David Richards CBE DSO (2001–2005)
• Lt. Gen. David Richards CBE DSO (2005–2006)
• Acting Gen. David Richards CBE DSO (2006–2007)
• Lt. Gen. Sir David Richards KCB CBE DSO (2007–2008)
• Gen. Sir David Richards KCB CBE DSO (2008–)

References

External links

• NATO Biography archived from http://www.arrc.nato.int/biographies/richards.htm

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