Difference between revisions of "David Richards"

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|image=David Richards.jpg
 
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|alma_mater=University College Cardiff
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|description=Leader of British army during wars in Libya and Syria.
 
|birth_date=4 March 1952
 
|birth_date=4 March 1952
 
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|constitutes=soldier, businessman
 
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|employment={{job
 
|employment={{job
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|title=Equilibrium Gulf Limited/Director
 
|employer=Equilibrium Gulf Limited
 
|employer=Equilibrium Gulf Limited
 
|start=3 December 2013  
 
|start=3 December 2013  
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General '''David Julian Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux''' is a retired senior [[British Army]] officer who was formerly the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]], the professional head of the [[British Armed Forces]].<ref>http://standardtimespress.org/?p=5053 </ref>
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Having led the international occupation forces in Afghanistan ([[ISAF]]) 2006-07, he directed the British part of the covert war, then air attack on [[Libya]] in 2011; and drew up a similar to train and equip a proxy Syrian rebel army of 100,000 to overthrow the Syrian government, as an alternative option to the government's plan for direct military attack.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10947773/Britain-drew-up-plans-to-build-100000-strong-Syrian-rebel-army.html</ref>
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==Career==
 
==Career==
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Richards served in the [[Far East]], Germany and Northern Ireland with the [[Royal Artillery]] before commanding forces in [[East Timor]] and most notably [[Sierra Leone]], where his action without official sanctioning protected [[Freetown]] from rebel attacks during the [[Sierra Leone Civil War]]. Richards has also served with [[NATO]] as a [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|major general]], and as a [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|lieutenant general]] he commanded the [[International Security Assistance Force]] in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007 during its expansion across the whole country.
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Richards became [[Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces]] of the British Army in 2008 and held this role until 2009 when he was appointed [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]], the head of the British Army. He was appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff the following year. He was succeeded by General [[Nick Houghton|Sir Nicholas Houghton]] on 18 July 2013.
  
==Later activities==
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In 2014, Richards was created a [[Life Peer]] taking the title ''Baron Richards of Herstmonceux''. He sits in  the [[House of Lords]] as a [[crossbencher]]. In December 2015, it was announced that he had joined the global advisory board of asset management firm [[CQS (Hedge Fund)|CQS]].<ref>http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/016b5f74-975b-11e4-be9d-00144feabdc0.html</ref> He has also worked as an advisor to the government of the United Arab Emirates and US-based arms company DynCorp.<ref>http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4456843.ece </ref>
Richards worked as a consultant for the government of the [[United Arab Emirates]]<ref name="thetimes1">{{cite web|author=Sam Coates Published at 12:01AM, June 1, 2015 |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4456843.ece |title=Ex-army chief lands job with Gulf state |publisher=The Times |date=2015-06-01 |accessdate=2017-02-17}}</ref> and has advised American arms company [[DynCorp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.caat.org.uk/resources/influence/person/121/meetings |title=Resources – Influence – Person – 121 – David Richards |publisher=CAAT |date=2015-09-14 |accessdate=2017-02-17}}</ref>
 
  
From October 2013, Richards has worked as a Senior Adviser to the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]].<ref>{{cite web|title=IISS announces the appointment of General Sir David Richards as Senior Adviser|url=http://www.iiss.org/en/about%20us/press%20room/press%20releases/press%20releases/archive/2013-61eb/october-7225/david-richards-2ae2|publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies|accessdate=1 February 2014|date=23 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=David Richards – Senior Adviser|url=http://www.iiss.org/en/persons/david-s-richards|publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies|accessdate=1 February 2014}}</ref>
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From October 2013, Richards has worked as a Senior Adviser to the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]].<ref>http://www.iiss.org/en/about%20us/press%20room/press%20releases/press%20releases/archive/2013-61eb/october-7225/david-richards-2ae2</ref><ref>http://www.iiss.org/en/persons/david-s-richards</ref><ref>https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-10-17-how-the-british-establishment-is-working-to-keep-bahrains-ruling-family-in-power/</ref>
  
He now goes under the name of Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, after being made a life peer in 2014. [https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-10-17-how-the-british-establishment-is-working-to-keep-bahrains-ruling-family-in-power/]
 
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
{{Stub}}
 

Revision as of 23:07, 26 March 2021

Person.png David Richards  Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(soldier, businessman)
David Richards.jpg
Born4 March 1952
NationalityUK
Alma materUniversity College Cardiff
Member ofDitchley/Governors, Ditchley/UK, Equilibrium Gulf Limited, European Leadership Network, International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Alphen Group

General David Julian Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux is a retired senior British Army officer who was formerly the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.[1]

Having led the international occupation forces in Afghanistan (ISAF) 2006-07, he directed the British part of the covert war, then air attack on Libya in 2011; and drew up a similar to train and equip a proxy Syrian rebel army of 100,000 to overthrow the Syrian government, as an alternative option to the government's plan for direct military attack.[2]

Career

Richards served in the Far East, Germany and Northern Ireland with the Royal Artillery before commanding forces in East Timor and most notably Sierra Leone, where his action without official sanctioning protected Freetown from rebel attacks during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Richards has also served with NATO as a major general, and as a lieutenant general he commanded the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007 during its expansion across the whole country.

Richards became Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces of the British Army in 2008 and held this role until 2009 when he was appointed Chief of the General Staff, the head of the British Army. He was appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff the following year. He was succeeded by General Sir Nicholas Houghton on 18 July 2013.

In 2014, Richards was created a Life Peer taking the title Baron Richards of Herstmonceux. He sits in the House of Lords as a crossbencher. In December 2015, it was announced that he had joined the global advisory board of asset management firm CQS.[3] He has also worked as an advisor to the government of the United Arab Emirates and US-based arms company DynCorp.[4]

From October 2013, Richards has worked as a Senior Adviser to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.[5][6][7]


 

A Document by David Richards

TitleDocument typeSubject(s)Description
Document:An Open Letter On Defenceopen letterUK/Ministry of Defence
UK/Army
An open letter the BBC published from a group of academics and military men written to the UK Prime Minister highlighting "global threats", warning that "security is threatened in almost every corner of the globe" and that decreased military expenditure would "damage our international credibility". Authors included at least three members of the Institute for Statecraft.
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References