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Chief of Joint Operations (CJO)

Lieutenant General Nick Perry DSO MBE

Biography

Nick Perry has served for 35 years. An armoured officer, his early operational experience in the 1990s came in Bosnia and Kosovo. After 9/11 he spent much of his time focused on and deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and the broader Middle East focused on contingent operations, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism.

Throughout a career defined by operational command, he has also held a number of appointments at the heart of government and Defence, including as Military Assistant to Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, and as Assistant Chief of the General Staff at Army Headquarters. As commander 16 Air Assault Brigade, commander of UK specialist military units, and latterly as the UK’s joint operational commander, he has overseen a wide range of contingent and enduring operations across Europe and beyond, supporting partners and strengthening the UK’s warfighting capability in line with the Government’s ‘NATO First’ ambition.

In September 2026, and on promotion to General, he will become the first British commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk. 

He is married and has four children.

Chief of Joint Operations (CJO)

The Chief of Joint Operations responsibilities include:

  • the Command and integration of global operations across all domains in support of National Security objectives

  • Training Design Authority and Force Preparation of the Joint Force, notably the readiness of the 2* and 1* deployable Joint Headquarters on SJFHQ, JFHQ and SJFLogC

  • deploy, sustain and recover all UK Armed Forces for designated operations and exercises

  • maintain a powerful network of relationships across the globe with NATO Joint Force Commanders, US COCOM Commanders, and peer international CJOs

  • provide evidence and expert operational level advice to support and inform MOD Strategic Planning and Campaign Design

  • develop the Permanent Joint Headquarters into a 21st Command and Control capability, constantly adapting to ensure Competitive Advantage

Ministry of Defence and Cyber & Specialist Operations Command