Chief of the General Staff | |
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![]() Flag of the Chief of the General Staff | |
since 15 June 2024 | |
Ministry of Defence British Army | |
Abbreviation | CGS |
Member of | Defence Council Army Board Chiefs of Staff Committee |
Reports to | Chief of the Defence Staff |
Nominator | Secretary of State for Defence |
Appointer | The Monarch On the advice of the Prime Minister, subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council |
Term length | No fixed length |
Precursor | Commander-in-Chief of the Forces |
Formation | 1904, 1964 |
First holder | Sir Neville Lyttelton |
Deputy | Deputy Chief of the General Staff |
The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board; he is also the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Army Board. Prior to 1964, the title was Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). Since 1959, the post has been immediately subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the post held by the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
The current Chief of the General Staff is General Sir Roland Walker, who succeeded General Sir Patrick Sanders in the role on 15 June 2024.[1]