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. The Director General of the Defence Academy is Lieutenant General Thomas Copinger-Symes, a senior Army officer.

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. The majority of training is postgraduate with many courses being accredited for the award of civilian qualifications.

The formation of the Defence Academy consolidated education and training delivered by a number of different establishments into a single organisational and budgetary structure, intended to improve efficiency, reduce duplication of effort and align delivery to defence requirements. The Defence Academy is also responsible for the maintenance of relationships with the UK academic establishment and with military and naval service educational institutions worldwide.

Non technical research is carried out for the development of doctrine and analysis of the international security environment.

The Chief Executive and Commandant of the Defence Academy is Major General Andrew Roe, a senior British Army officer.

Delivery units and locations
Training is delivered by:


 * Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), Seaford House, Belgravia, London
 * Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
 * Shrivenham Leadership Centre (SLC), Beckett Hall, Shrivenham
 * Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC), Shrivenham
 * Nuclear Department, HMS Sultan (shore establishment), Gosport
 * Defence Centre of Training Support (DCTS), Shrivenham
 * Technology School, Shrivenham
 * Business Skills College, Shrivenham
 * Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)
 * Loughborough University
 * Aston University
 * University of Birmingham
 * Newcastle University
 * Northumbria University
 * University of Southampton
 * University of Portsmouth
 * Defence Technical Officer and Engineer Entry Scheme (DTOEES) (part of DSFC and DTUS)
 * International Group, which comprises the Defence Centre for Languages & Culture (DCLC), the Defence Attache 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)
 * Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, Leicestershire (2005–2021)
 * Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC), Amport House, Amport, Hampshire (1957–2020)

Governance
The Director General of the Defence Academy was, until 2011, a three-star rank (vice admiral, lieutenant general, air marshal) which can be filled by any of the three armed services.

The Director General of the Defence Academy chairs the Defence Academy Management Board which is composed of the commandants of the constituent delivery units and Chief of Staff, Defence Academy. The commanding officer of Shrivenham Station is a separate post filled by a Royal Air Force Wing Commander.

The management board report to a four-star steering board and an advisory board including academic expertise from the private sector and academia. A customer board at two-star level represents the customer community.

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

List of Directors General:
 * 2002–2005: Sir Roger Jackling
 * 2005–2008: Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely, late Scots Guards
 * 2008–2011: Lieutenant General Andrew Graham, late Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
 * 2011–2014: Peter Watkins
 * 2014–2018: Vice Admiral Duncan Potts
 * 2018–2021: Air Marshal Edward Stringer
 * 2021–present: Air Marshal Ian Gale