Chief of Defence Staff

The Chief of Defence Staff, or CDS, is the senior tri-service military office intended to improve coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force in higher defence management. Created in 2019, the CDS serves as Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs. The office promotes integration while preserving the distinct roles and identities of the Services.

Position in higher defence organisation

The CDS connects professional military advice, defence planning and the Ministry of Defence's administrative processes.

• As Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Minister, the CDS advises on tri-service matters, while each Service Chief advises on matters concerning that service.
• As Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the CDS develops coordinated military advice and promotes inter-service consensus.
• As Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs, the CDS administers its allocated business and facilitates integration among the Services.
• The CDS is a member of the Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee, and acts as military adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.

Mandate for tri-service integration

The CDS is mandated to replace isolated service-specific approaches with jointness, meaning coordinated planning and employment of capabilities rather than merger of the three Services.

• The CDS promotes jointness in operations, procurement, training, staffing, communications and logistics through joint planning and integration of requirements.
• The CDS facilitates restructuring of military commands, including establishment of joint or theatre commands, through consultation and consensus.
• The CDS administers tri-service organisations, agencies and commands assigned to the office, thereby strengthening common institutional arrangements.
• The CDS encourages interoperability, common procedures and integrated employment of capabilities across land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains.
• The CDS promotes optimal use and rationalisation of infrastructure, greater combat effectiveness and reduction of wasteful expenditure.

Capability development and resource priorities

Integration also requires the Services to plan capabilities collectively rather than submit disconnected demands.

• The CDS assigns inter-service priorities to capital acquisition proposals and supports integrated capability development and acquisition planning.
• The office seeks to align force planning with anticipated resources and the combined operational requirements of the Services.
• As head of the Department of Military Affairs, the CDS promotes greater use of indigenous equipment by the Services.

Limits of authority

The CDS coordinates and integrates the Services but is not a separate operational commander over them.

• The CDS does not exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs or their forces.
• The respective Service Chiefs retain command over their Services and their direct advisory role on service-specific matters.