Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton is set to become the British Army’s next Deputy Chief of the General Staff, following his tenure as interim Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), according to the organisation.
Hamilton will take up the post in April, succeeding Lieutenant General Sir David Eastman, after completing his current role at the end of March. As DCGS, he will be responsible for force design, overseeing personnel and capability development to ensure the Army remains equipped for future operations.
His appointment follows a career spanning operational command, capability development and senior roles within DE&S, including Director General Land and Deputy CEO, as well as earlier work in vehicle support and logistics.
In his new role, Hamilton is expected to play a central part in shaping the Army’s future structure and capabilities, including maintaining links with industry and supporting the delivery of modern systems.
Hamilton said he was looking ahead to the position, stating “it is an enormous privilege to have been chosen, and I look forward to this new challenge.”
Reflecting on his time at DE&S, he added “this most recent chapter has been an immense privilege; made possible by the wonderful people I have had the chance to serve alongside.” He also indicated that his experience in acquisition and programme delivery would inform his approach, noting “as DCGS, I hope to use what I’ve learned at DE&S to strengthen the partnership between the Army and the National Armaments Director Group.”
The Deputy Chief of the General Staff serves as the Army’s second-in-command, supporting the Chief of the General Staff and leading work on force development and capability planning.
I’d read that Hamilton was involved in the Ajax fiasco previously.
Rewarding failure?