Charles Collins

Lieutenant General Sir Charles Seymour Collins, is a senior British Army officer, who currently serves as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations).

Military career Collins was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1995. He was appointed commanding officer of the 5th Battalion of The Rifles in 2012 and was deployed in that role to Afghanistan. He became Assistant Chief of the General Staff in 2022, and was appointed Commander Home Command with the promotion to lieutenant general on 4 September 2023.

Collins became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations) in September 2025.

Collins was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Birthday Honours, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his service in Afghanistan on 25 March 2011. He was advanced to Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 3 July 2015 and to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2025 Birthday Honours.

Honorary appointments Collins was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Cambridge University Officers′ Training Corps on 1 June 2024, and a Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps on 28 November 2024.

He was Assistant Colonel Commandant of The Rifles from around 2024 to 2026, and was appointed Colonel Commandant of the regiment from 1 May 2026.