High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! General Sir David Julian Richards, GCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen (born 4 March 1952) is a senior British Army officer, currently the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces. He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup in this role on 29 October 2010. Richards is supported in his role by his deputy, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, currently General Sir Nicholas Houghton.