Admiral Sir Tony Radakin: Everything you need to know about Britain's most senior military official

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin's role as Chief of the Defence Staff has been extended until autumn 2025 and means he will remain Britain's most senior military official.

Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the Armed Forces and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed Adm Radakin will stay in post longer than expected.

The senior Navy officer was appointed as the new CDS in 2021, but who is the Armed Forces chief and what does his role involve?

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Announcing his extension, the Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has the expertise and leadership we need in an increasingly dangerous world."

The CDS is responsible for leading the future defence strategy of the UK military, current operations and building relations with other countries' Armed Forces.

The role of CDS also involves being the principal military adviser to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence.

In February, Admiral Radakin called for a "sense of perspective" on speculation over the future of Nato, conscription in Britain, and the capability of the nuclear deterrent.

Admiral Radakin's career

After being commissioned in 1990, Adm Radakin's service has included security duties in the Falklands, Nato embargo operations in the Adriatic, and counter-smuggling in Hong Kong and the Caribbean.

He has also served three command tours in Iraq.

Adm Radakin has commanded from Lieutenant to Rear Admiral of ashore, afloat and international forces, including HMS Blazer and Southampton URNU (University Royal Naval Unit), HMS Norfolk, the Naval Training Team in Iraq, the Iraqi Maritime Task Force, Portsmouth Naval Base, and Commander of UK Maritime Forces and Nato's High Readiness Maritime Component Commander.

His staff appointments have mainly consisted of joint and defence roles, including operational planning at PJHQ (Permanent Joint Headquarters), two tours as a Military Assistant, and two tours involving financial, capability and strategic force development.

Previously, he worked as Chief of Staff of the Joint Forces Command from 2016-2018 and Second Sea Lord from 2018-2019.

While Navy chief, Adm Radakin has overseen the deployment of the UK's maiden Carrier Strike Group deployment, and the formation of Aukus – a defence alliance with the US and Australia that will provide the latter with nuclear-powered submarines.

The outgoing First Sea Lord Admiral Tony Radakin became a Sir for his "relentless drive and clear vision, shaping every aspect of the Royal Navy".

The citation for his Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB) refers to the "seismic impact his improvements and innovations are having on the senior service".

He is president of the Royal Navy Squash Association and the UK Armed Forces Tennis Association and has even been known to accept challenges from cadets.

In his former role as the First Sea Lord, Adm Radakin commanded more than 30,000 men and women, more than 90 warships, nuclear submarines and support vessels, the helicopters and jets of the Fleet Air Arm and the elite Naval infantry of the Royal Marines.