The Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies, formerly the Commandant of the Imperial Defence College, is the head of the Royal College of Defence Studies, a British military staff college which instructs senior officers, diplomats, and civil servants.
The Commandant was a senior serving military officer between 1972 and 2001: the post rotated through the three branches of the armed forces in turn.
In 1991, the post was downgraded to three-star, and then in 2001, it was opened up to competition through public advertisement.
Subsequent incumbents were all senior retired military officers, until the appointment of a diplomat in 2014.
In 2019, a civil service job advert stated the post would be at SCS2 pay grade, or Two-star rank or NATO OF-7 rank.