The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) is the professional head of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.

In 1985, General Joseph Saidu Momoh, the army commander, succeed President Siaka Stevens.

It is not clear what exactly Momoh's title was but it seems likely that he was the senior Sierra Leonean military officer and held the predecessor to the CDS's post.

Brigadier General Tom Carew was Chief of Defence Staff from April 2000 to November 2004.

[1] Major General Alfred Nelson-Williams was the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Republic of the Armed Forces, between 2008-2010.