JPEG Image 37 Kb
Lieutenant General Sir David Richards
KCB CBE DSO
Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
Born in 1952 and educated at Eastbourne College, David Richards
was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1971 prior to studying
international relations at University College Cardiff. Graduating
in 1974 he spent the next 9 years at regimental duty in the Far
East, Germany and the UK (principally with 29 Commando Regiment
RA and C Anti-Tank Battery Royal Horse Artillery) and on the staff
of 11th Armoured Brigade in Germany. This period included 3 tours
in Northern Ireland. After attending the Staff College in 1984,
he returned to 11th Armoured Brigade to command a field battery
in 47th Field Regiment. From there he spent 2 years in Berlin as
the Chief of Staff of the Berlin Infantry Brigade. Promoted to Lieutenant
Colonel, he spent the next 3 years as an instructor at the Staff
College, Camberley, before being appointed to command 3rd Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery. This period included another operational
tour in Northern Ireland. In 1994 he was promoted and appointed
Colonel Army Plans in the MOD, responsible for the shape and size
of the Army. Promoted to Brigadier in 1996, and after attending
the Higher Command and Staff course, he became Commander 4th Armoured
Brigade in Germany. In 1998 he was posted to the Permanent Joint
Headquarters as Chief Joint Force Operations, the UK's default one
star commander for short notice expeditionary operations. In this
role he was involved in a number of operations, including commanding
the UK Contingent in East Timor in 1999, and twice commanding a
UK Joint Task Force in Sierra Leone in 2000. Promoted to Major General,
he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
in April 2001 before becoming Assistant Chief of the General Staff
in September 2002. He assumed the appointment of Commander ARRC
in January 2005, in which role he served as Commander of the International
Security and Assistance Force Afghanistan between May 2006 and February
2007. On completion of NATO/ISAF expansion across the whole of Afghanistan
in October 2006, he was promoted to General for the remainder of
his time in Afghanistan. He has attended the US Combined Joint Force
Land Component Commander's and Joint Task Force Commander's (Pinnacle)
Courses. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches,
Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the Distinguished
Service Order and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.
Lieutenant General Sir David Richards has a home in Wiltshire, is married to Caroline and has 2 daughters (Joanna and Pippa). He is Honorary Colonel of 3rd Regiment RHA, Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas and President of Army Tennis. A keen student of military history, he is also a qualified offshore yachtsman - he is Admiral of the British Kiel Yacht Club - a Governor of his old School, an occasional horseman and an unskilled but hard working gardener. He is due to become Commander in Chief Land Forces in January 2008.
|
