Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton has succeeded Adm. Tony Radakin as the United Kingdom’s chief of the defense staff, following Radakin’s completion of his four-year term.
“It is an honor to begin my role as chief of the defense staff today. I will work tirelessly to combat the threats the U.K. faces whilst fulfilling the integral role the armed forces play in protecting our personnel, our allies and operations worldwide,” Knighton said in a Ministry of Defence statement on Tuesday.
As defense chief, Knighton serves as professional head of the armed forces and principal military adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey. He most recently led the Royal Air Force as chief of the air staff and has previously held senior posts in the MoD.
Healey welcomed the appointment announced in June, citing Knighton’s experience leading the RAF “through a period of intense demand” and calling him a key figure in implementing the Strategic Defence Review.
Radakin, appointed in 2021, concluded his tenure after steering the U.K. military through NATO’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other global challenges. His term was extended for one year to sustain the support for Ukraine and the modernization of the British military.