1. Nick Houghton was appointed CDS in July 2013, following the retirement of General Sir David Richards.
26 Facts About Nick Houghton
1. 2.
Nick Houghton served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, the Green Howards in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and later became Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland.
3.
Nick Houghton retired from the British Army in July 2016, and was succeeded as CDS by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach.
4.
Nick Houghton was born on 18 October 1954 in Otley, near Leeds, and is the son of Frank and Peggy Nick Houghton.
5.
Nick Houghton was educated at Woodhouse Grove School, a private school near Bradford.
6.
Nick Houghton was promoted to lieutenant on 9 March 1976, to captain on 9 September 1980 and to major on 30 September 1986.
7.
Nick Houghton was appointed Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff British Army of the Rhine and subsequently became a member of the Directing Staff at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham.
8.
Nick Houghton was made Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff at HQ Land Command in 1994 and he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course in 1997.
9.
Nick Houghton was promoted to major general on 26 July 2002 and was made Chief of Staff of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps that year before becoming Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff in 2004.
10.
Nick Houghton became Chief of Joint Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters in 2006 and, after being relieved of that post on 13 March 2009, he was promoted to general and appointed Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff on 5 May 2009.
11.
Nick Houghton took over as Chief of the Defence Staff on 18 July 2013.
12.
Nick Houghton stated that one of his key objectives was to re-shape the Armed forces in the post-Afghanistan era.
13.
Nick Houghton raised concerns about the Armed Forces' abilities with the personnel and budget cuts.
14.
In January 2016, the government announced that Nick Houghton would be replaced by Sir Stuart Peach as Chief of the Defence Staff in the summer of 2016.
15.
In 2016, Nick Houghton was appointed Constable of The Tower of London, as the monarch's representative for five years, replacing Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt.
16.
Nick Houghton left his role in 2022 with Sir Gordon Messenger replacing him.
17.
Nick Houghton joined the House of Lords as a crossbencher.
18.
Nick Houghton has been a member of the International Relations and Defence Committee, a select committee of the House of Lords, since January 2024.
19.
Nick Houghton was chosen to carry the Sword of Temporal Justice at the 2023 Coronation.
20.
On 12 October 1993, Nick Houghton was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire "in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland".
21.
Nick Houghton was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 14 April 2000 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland during the period 1 April 1999 to 30 September 1999".
22.
Nick Houghton was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2008 Birthday Honours, and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 2011 Birthday Honours.
23.
Nick Houghton was Colonel of the Regiment of 158 Transport Regiment from 1 November 2003 to 1 September 2008 and honorary Colonel Commandant of the King's Division from 10 December 2005 to 10 December 2008 as well as Colonel of the Regiment of The Yorkshire Regiment from 6 June 2006 to 6 June 2011.
24.
Nick Houghton was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps on 19 July 2008 and Aide-de-Camp General to The Queen on 1 October 2009.
25.
In June 2015, Nick Houghton received an honorary Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera award from the Deputy Minister for Defence of Malaysia.
26.
Nick Houghton's interests include golf, sailing, shooting, cooking and history.