Royal College of Defence Studies

The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.

The RCDS Mission is:

"To prepare senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and other countries and future leaders from the private and public sectors for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of defence and international security, and strategic vision". ^[1]

Formerly the Imperial Defence College, RCDS owes its origins to the recommendation of a cabinet committee in 1922 presided over by Winston Churchill, then Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The college was founded in 1927 and was located at 9 Buckingham Gate until 1939. Its work in those days was chiefly concerned with defence of the Empire, with a population of 25 Members drawn from the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The experience of the Second World War proved the benefits of such an institution for training senior service officers and governments and services of the Commonwealth for the college to resume its work.

In 1946 the college reopened at its site at Seaford House, Belgrave Square. This was the first time members from the United States attended the course.^[2]

The college was renamed to "Royal College of Defence Studies" in 1970. The course composition has been progressively widened to include members from over 33 different countries, including in recent years China, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Pakistan, the Slovak Republic and Nepal.

The college celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2007. The occasion was marked by a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

RCDS forms a part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. In fulfilment of its mission, the college runs one course a year, from January to December. Each course is attended by a maximum of 88 members, around one-third from UK and two-thirds from overseas. 75% are military officers of Colonel/Brigadier or equivalent rank. The remaining 25% are civil servants, diplomats, police officers and representatives from the private sector. All have been selected to attend the course on the strength of their potential to progress to a high position within their profession. Their average age is 46.

The College is under a Commandant, currently Vice Admiral Charles Style, CBE, and senior directing staff are 2 star officers from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, and civil service.

[edit] Distinguished former members of the course

• Pervez Musharraf Former President and former Army Chief of Pakistan
• Klaus Naumann Chairman of the NATO Military Committee
• Field Marshal Lord Vincent of Coleshill Chairman of the NATO Military Committee
• Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston Chief of the Australian Defence Force

[edit] Commandants

• 1 September 1926 Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond
• January 1929 Major-General W H Bartholomew
• 19 January 1931 Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham
• 19 January 1933 Vice-Admiral (later Admiral) Sir Lionel Preston
• Major-General RH Haining CB DSO (1935)
• Air Marshal Sir AM Longmore KCB DSO (1937)
• Vice Admiral TH Binney CB DSO (1939)
• General Sir William J Slim GBE KCB DSO, MC (1946)
• Air Chief Marshal Sir John C Slessor KCB DSO MC (1948)
• Admiral Sir Charles S. Daniel KCB CBE DSO (1949)
• General Sir Frank EW Simpson GBE KCB DSO (1952)
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur PM Sanders GCB KBE (1954)
• Admiral The Hon Sir Guy HE Russell GBE KCB DSO (1956)
• General Sir Geoffrey K Bourne KCB KBE CMG (1958)
• Sir Robert Scott GCMG CBE (1960)
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Constantine KBE CB DSO (1961)
• Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin GCB DSO DSC (1964)
• General Sir John Anderson GBE KCB DSO (1966)
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Donald Evans KBE CB DFC (1968)
• The Hon Alastair Buchan CBE (1970)
• General Sir Mervyn Butler KCB CBE DSO MC (1972)
• General Sir Antony Read, GCB CBE DSO MC ADC (Gen) (1973)
• Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough KCB CBE DFC AFC (1974)
• Admiral Sir Ian Easton KCB DSC (1976)
• General Sir David Fraser KCB OBE ADC (Gen) (1978)
• Air Chief Marshall Sir Robert Freer GBE KCB (1980)
• Admiral Sir William Pillar GBE KCB (1982)
• General Sir Michael Gow GCB, ADC (Gen) (1984)
• Admiral Sir David Hallifax KCB KBE (1986)
• Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage KCB CBE (1988)
• General Sir Antony Walker KCB (1990)
• Vice Admiral Sir John Coward KCB DSO (1992)
• Air Marshal Sir Timothy Garden KCB RAF (1994)
• Lieutenant General SC Grant CB (1996)
• Vice Admiral John H S McAnally CB LVO (1998)
• Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Wallace KBE (2001)
• Admiral Sir Ian Garnett KCB (2005)

[edit] Notable staff

• James Allan - British High Commissioner and ambassador

[edit] External links

• Official website

[edit] References

1. ^ Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. "The Royal College of Defence Studies".
2. ^ Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. "A History Of RCDS".