Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom provides higher education for personnel in the British Armed Forces, Civil Service, other government departments and service personnel from other nations.

Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

Motto	Intellectual Excellence in Defence
Type	Military
Established	2002, oldest constituent unit est. 1772
Director	Major General Peter Rowell
Location	Shrivenham and Watchfield , Oxfordshire , United Kingdom 51°36′10.77″N 1°38′25.50″W
Campus	Rural
Website	www.da.mod.uk

Structure

The Defence Academy has its headquarters at what used to be the Royal Military College of Science site at Shrivenham in southwestern Oxfordshire, though the present campus also extends into the neighbouring village of Watchfield; it delivers education and training there and in a number of other sites. Much of the training is postgraduate including Master of Science courses.^[1]

The Chief Executive and Commandant of the Defence Academy is Major General Peter Rowell, a senior British Army officer.^[2]

Delivery units and locations

Training is delivered by:^[3]

• Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), Seaford House, Belgravia, London
• Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC),
• Defence College for Military Capability Integration (DCMCI)
• Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC), Shrivenham
• Defence Centre of Training Support (DCTS), Shrivenham
• Defence Leadership and Business (DLAB) Group
• International Group, which comprises the Defence Centre for Languages & Culture (DCLC), the Defence Attaché and Loan Service Centre (DALSC) and the International Section, with the affiliated Building Integrity section
• Centre of Air Safety Training (Military Aviation Authority) (CoAST)

Former locations

• Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire (until 2005)^[4]
• Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, Leicestershire (2005–2021)^[5]
• Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC), Amport House, Amport, Hampshire (1957–2020)^[6]

Governance

Academic provision is delivered through partnering agreements with Cranfield University and King's College London.^[7]

Directors General:

• 2002–2005: Sir Roger Jackling^[8]
• 2005–2008: Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely, late Scots Guards^[9]
• 2008–2011: Lieutenant General Andrew Graham, late Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders^[10]
• 2011–2014: Peter Watkins^[11]
• 2014–2018: Vice Admiral Duncan Potts^[12]
• 2018–2021: Air Marshal Edward Stringer^[13]
• 2021–2024: Air Marshal Ian Gale^[14]

Chief Executives and Commandants:

• 2022–2024: Major General Andrew Roe^[15]
• 2024–present Major General Peter Rowell^[16]