High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! General Sir David Julian Richards KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC General born 1952 is a British military commander, and was the overall commander of international forces in southern Afghanistan from July 2006 until 4 February 2007, when he was relieved by US General Dan McNeill. He was formerly Commander-in-Chief, Land Command and became Chief of the General Staff on 28 August 2009.Richards attended Eastbourne College and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a Second Lieutenant in 1971.He then attended University College, Cardiff, graduating in 1974 with a degree in politics and economics.