David Sterling

{{short description|Northern Irish civil servant}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Similar names|David Stirling (disambiguation)}}

File:David Sterling.jpg

Sir David Robert Sterling {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCB}} (born 7 March 1958) is a Northern Irish civil servant. Since 2017, he was the Interim Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Permanent Secretary of the Executive Office, and Secretary to Northern Ireland Executive: as such, he was the most senior civil servant in Northern Ireland.{{cite web |title=Sterling, David Robert |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-151400 |website=Who's Who 2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=5 August 2019 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U151400 |date=1 December 2018}}{{cite web |title=New head of NI Civil Service appointed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40278366 |website=BBC News |access-date=5 August 2019 |date=14 June 2017}}{{cite web |title=David Sterling |url=https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/david-sterling-0 |website=The Executive Office |access-date=5 August 2019 |language=en |date=10 July 2017}}

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2020 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=63135|supp=y|page=B3|date=10 October 2020}} He stepped down as Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service on 31 August 2020, after 42 years as a civil servant.{{cite web |last1=Dunton |first1=Jim |title=David Sterling stands down after '42 years, 199 days' with NICS |url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/david-sterling-stands-down-after-42-years-199-days-with-nics |website=Civil Service World |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=1 September 2020}} He is a keen golfer who plays at Malone Golf Club, Belfast.

In 2024, he was made a member of the Royal Irish Academy.{{cite web |url=https://www.ria.ie/2025/05/22/28-new-members-admitted-to-the-royal-irish-academy/ |title=28 new members admitted to the Royal Irish Academy |date=22 May 2025 |website=ria.ie |publisher=Royal Irish Academy |access-date=2025-05-25}}