General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB ADC
Biography
Raised in Northumberland, General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB ADC (Gen) commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1992, spending the majority of her early years serving in Germany, the Balkans and Iraq. While in command she has been responsible for providing information and communication services, command support and capability development, in support of formation headquarters up to and including the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and the UK Joint Force Headquarters. Higher command appointments were the 1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade and General Officer Commander the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command.
Staff appointments have been focussed on capability development, resource planning and personnel. She has completed the Higher Command and Staff Course and is a graduate of the Major Projects Leadership Academy. She has served as Colonel Capability Plans in the Army Headquarters, the Head of Manning as a Brigadier, and the Director of Personnel as a Major General. She has also been the Senior Responsible Officer for the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme. She became the Deputy Chief of the General Staff in August 2022.
General Dame Sharon is also the Master of Signals, as well as the Vice President for Army Football and Army Rugby. She was selected for the role of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in May 2024.
She lives in Wiltshire, with her husband and two sons, and enjoys time in the Lake District, skiing for fun, and running.
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff deputises for the Chief of the Defence Staff and has responsibility for running the armed forces aspects of defence business, principally through the central staff.
Responsibilities
VCDS is responsible for:
- deputising for CDS (in particular as Military Strategic Commander)
- co-ordinating delivery of top-level decisions-making, implementation and monitoring progress
- leading senior military judgement for the future development of the armed forces including the definition and delivery for military capability requirements; and being capability sponsor for capital projects and programmes
- Defence Board lead for military personnel and training (including Reserves)
- leading the preparation of the armed forces input to SDSRs
- (with CDS) conduct of the military strategic dialogue