GeneralSir Charles Roland Vincent Walker,KCB,DSO,ADC Gen(born 14 May 1970) is a seniorBritish Armyofficer, who served asDeputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations)from April 2021 until June 2024.[1]He becameChief of the General Staff,the professional head of the British Army, on 15 June 2024.[2]
Sir Roland Walker | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant General Walker in 2023 | |
| Birth name | Charles Roland Vincent Walker |
| Nickname(s) | Roly |
| Born | 14 May 1970 Nairobi,Kenya |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1990–present |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Grenadier Guards |
| Commands held | Chief of the General Staff(2024–) Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff(2021–24) Director Special Forces(2018–21) 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade(2013–15) 1st Battalion,Grenadier Guards(2008–10) |
| Battles/wars | The Troubles Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order |
| Alma mater | Royal Agricultural College |
| Spouse(s) |
Kate White-Thomson (m.1998) |
Early life and education
editWalker was born on 14 May 1970 inNairobi,Kenya, to Patrick Walker and Daphne Walker (née Armour).[3]Following his father's death, his mother marriedFrederick Conyngham, 7th Marquess Conynghamin 1980.[3]He was educated at theDragon School,aprivatepreparatory schoolinOxford,and then atHarrow School,an all-boys independentboarding schoolin London. Sponsored by theBritish Armyas auniversity cadetship officer,[4]he studied at theRoyal Agricultural College,graduating with aBachelor of Sciencedegree.[5]He later studied atCranfield University,graduating with aMaster of Artsdegree.[3]
Military career
editWalker was commissioned into theGuards Divisionof theBritish Armyas asecond lieutenant(on probation) on 9 September 1990 as part of his undergraduate cadetship.[4]In September 1993, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted tolieutenantback-dated to 11 August 1992.[6]He began active service in theIrish Guardsin 1993, and saw operational tours in Northern Ireland and Iraq.[5]He was promoted tocaptainon 11 August 1995.[7]In 1997, he joined22 Special Air Service Regiment.[8]He was promoted tomajoron 30 September 2000.[9]He attend theAdvanced Command and Staff Coursefrom 2001 to 2003.[3]Between 2003 to 2007, he undertook multipleoperational toursin Iraq.[3]
Following his time with Special Forces, he becamecommanding officerof the 1st Battalion,Grenadier Guardsfrom 2008 to 2010.[5][10]He was promoted tolieutenant colonelon 30 June 2008.[11]With the Grenadiers, he served a tour in Afghanistan, during which theRidgeback PPVin which he was travelling was blown up by animprovised explosive device(IED): all six soldiers inside escaped uninjured, but the vehicle was thrown into the air, had its wheels blown off and its armour shredded.[10]Walker was awarded theDistinguished Service Order(DSO) in September 2010 in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan.[12]
Walker commanded the12th Armoured Infantry Brigadefrom 2013 to 2015,[5]and was promoted tobrigadieron 30 June 2014.[13]He has since held staff appointments atArmy Headquartersand theMinistry of Defence.[5]He was promoted tomajor generalon 8 March 2018,[14]and appointedDirector Special Forces.[15]He was promoted tolieutenant generaland becameDeputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations)on 16 April 2021.[16]He was appointed aKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath(KCB) in the2023 New Year Honours,thereby granted thetitlesir.[17]
It was announded in December 2023 that Walker had been selected to be the nextChief of the General Staff,the professional head of the British Army, and would take up the post in June 2024.[18][19]He took up the post on 16 June 2024. On the same day, he was promoted togeneraland appointedAide-de-camp generalto the King.[20]
Walker served asColonel Commandantof theRoyal Army Veterinary Corpsfrom 1 March 2017 to 1 June 2022,[21]and Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards from 18 June 2017 to 18 June 2022; both ceremonial appointments.[22][23]He was Honorary Colonel of the Cambridge University Officers' Training Corps until June 2024.[24] He was appointed Colonel Commandant of theHonourable Artillery Companyon 30 May 2024.[25]
Personal life
editIn 1998, Walker married Kate White-Thomson. They have three daughters and live inHerefordshire.[5]
References
edit- ^Notice,gov.uk. Accessed 3 July 2023.
- ^"General Sir Roly Walker KCB DSO".GOV.UK.Retrieved17 June2024.
- ^abcde"Walker, Lt Gen. Sir (Charles) Roland (Vincent), (born 14 May 1970), Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations), since 2021".Who's Who 2024.Oxford University Press. 1 December 2023.Retrieved3 April2024.
- ^ab"No. 52323".The London Gazette(Supplement). 5 November 1990. p. 17191.
- ^abcdef"Walker, Maj. Gen. (Charles) Roland (Vincent), (born 14 May 1970), Operations Director, Ministry of Defence, since 2018".Who's Who 2021.Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020.Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^"No. 53426".The London Gazette(Supplement). 13 September 1993. p. 14960.
- ^"No. 54233".The London Gazette(Supplement). 4 December 1995. p. 16487.
- ^"Lieutenant General Roly Walker DSO".GOV.UK.
- ^"No. 55986".The London Gazette(Supplement). 3 October 2000. p. 11013.
- ^abRayment, Sean (20 June 2010)."Portraits of bravery: commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^"No. 58752".The London Gazette(Supplement). 1 July 2008. p. 9837.
- ^"No. 59554".The London Gazette(Supplement). 24 September 2010. p. 18535.
- ^"No. 60918".The London Gazette(Supplement). 1 July 2014. p. 2.
- ^"No. 62226".The London Gazette(Supplement). 13 March 2018. p. 4541.
- ^"Lieutenant General Roly Walker DSO".Ministry of Defence.Retrieved4 August2021.
- ^"No. 63325".The London Gazette(Supplement). 20 April 2021. p. 7239.
- ^"No. 63918".The London Gazette(Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N2.
- ^Harnden, Toby (28 August 2023)."'As a soldier, he's beyond compare': The ex-SAS war hero intent on change for the British Army ".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved12 September2023.
- ^"General Sir Roly Walker appointed new Chief of the General Staff".GOV.UK.Ministry of Defence. 12 December 2023.Retrieved14 December2023.
- ^"No. 64435".The London Gazette(Supplement). 18 June 2024. p. 11742.
- ^"No. 61865".The London Gazette(Supplement). 7 March 2017. p. 4890.
- ^"Regimental Headquarters".Grenadier Guards.Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^"No. 61971".The London Gazette(Supplement). 20 June 2017. p. 11876.
- ^"No. 64412".The London Gazette(Supplement). 4 June 2024. p. 10721.
- ^"No. 64418".The London Gazette(Supplement). 11 June 2024. p. 11222.