The authority is fully independent of the Military Chain of Command and acts under the superintendence of the Attorney General. It was formed on 1 January 2009 by the merger of the separate prosecuting authorities of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and is headed by Bruce Houlder QC, a civil servant, as Director Service Prosecutions. The Deputy Director Service Prosecutions (DDSP) is a Brigadier position and is an Officer of the Army Legal Services.