View source for Chief of the Defence Staff (Gallambria)

{{Infobox official post
| post                     = Chief of the Defence Staff
| body                     = <!-- Optional. -->
| native_name              = <!-- Optional. -->
| flag                     = Chief of the Defence Staff Ensign (Gallambria).svg
| flagsize                 = 150px
| flagborder               = <!-- "yes" to add a border around the flag -->
| flagcaption              = Ensign of the Chief of the Defence Staff
| insignia                 = Crest of the Gallambrian Armed Forces.svg
| insigniasize             = 150px
| insigniacaption          = Crest of the Gallambrian Armed Forces
| image                    = Errol_McCormack.jpg
| imagesize                = 150px
| incumbent                = [[Errol McCormack|ACM Sir Errol McCormack]]
| incumbentsince           = {{date|2018|07|07}}
| department               = [[Gallambrian Armed Forces]]
| member_of                = [[Gallambrian Defence Council]]
| reports_to               = [[Secretary of State for Defence (Gallambria)|Secretary of State for Defence]]
| nominator                = [[Secretary of State for Defence (Gallambria)|Secretary of State for Defence]]
| appointer                = [[Prime Minister of Gallambria|Prime Minister]]
| appointer_qualified      = with [[Monarch of the Kingdom of Gallambria|Royal]] {{wp|consent and advice}}
| termlength               = 3 years
| termlength_qualified     = renewable
| constituting_instrument  = Defence Act 1890
| formation                = {{date|1891|02|17}}
| first                    = General Sir Spencer Lloyd-Carr
| abbreviation             = CDS
| deputy                   = [[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (Gallambria)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]]
}}

The '''Chief of the Defence Staff''' ('''CDS''') is the professional head of the [[Gallambrian Armed Forces]] and the most senior uniformed military advisor to the [[Secretary of State for Defence (Gallambria)|Secretary of State for Defence]] and the [[Prime Minister of Gallambria|Prime Minister]]. The Chief of the Defence Staff is based at the [[Ministry of Defence (Gallambria)|Ministry of Defence]] and works alongside the Permanent Secretary of Defence, the Ministry's senior Civil Servant.

The current Chief of the General Staff is {{ap|Air Chief Marshal|ACM}} [[Errol McCormack|Sir Errol McCormack]]. He was appointed to the position following the resignation of {{wp|General}} [[Nate Perry-Marsh|Sir Nate Perry-Marsh]], when he was appointed as the Senior Military Delegate for [[Gallambria]] to [[Tricontinental_Defence_Treaty_Organisation|TRIDENT]]. Chiefs of the Defence Staff are appointed on the recommendation of the [[Secretary of State for Defence (Gallambria)|Secretary of State for Defence]], to the [[Prime Minister of Gallambria|Prime Minister]] before being approved by the [[Monarchy of the Kingdom of Gallambria|Monarch.

==Supporting and associated posts==

The CDS is supported by a deputy, the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS), who normally holds a four-star ranks, usually from a different service to the CDS. There are also several Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS) posts who support the VCDS. These are:
* Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations)
* Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel)
* Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability)

The CDS maintains a close working relationship with the Secretary of Defence, and they both report to the the Secretary of State for Defence. The CDS focuses on military operations and strategy, while the Secretary of Defence's remit concerns administrative and financial policy.

[[Category:Gallambrian Armed Forces]]