Chief of Defence Staff Appointment United Kingdom (nato.int)

• Announced by the Prime Minister on 27 June 2025, effective September 2025.
• Prior role as Chief of the Air Staff during a period of high operational demand.
• Decorated with KCB and CB, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

"Sir Richard Knighton, former Chief of the Air Staff, becomes the next Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom from September 2025. He led RAF operations including airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, NATO air policing, and aid deliveries to Gaza and Ukraine. He holds an engineering degree from Cambridge and numerous honors."