General Sir Roly Walker KCB DSO
Biography
General Sir ‘Roly’ Walker was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1993, and served with the UK’s Special Forces from 1997. He commanded the Grenadier Guards in 2009, promoting to the General Staff four years later.
He has commanded at company, squadron, battle group, brigade and SF group levels, variously in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as joint command of operations across Europe, the broader Middle East, Africa and South America. On the Staff he has served in brigade, divisional, army and strategic HQs.
He was the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations) at the MOD from April 2021, during which time he was responsible for advising on and directing new operations to support the government’s response to Covid, the death of the late Duke of Edinburgh, the withdrawal from Kabul, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II and coronation of King Charles III, numerous evacuation operations and most recently the Hamas attacks on Israel. In December 2023 it was announced that General Walker was to be appointed as the new Chief of the General Staff, succeeding General Sir Patrick Sanders. He assumed the appointment on 15 June 2024.
He was made a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in 2023, and a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 2010. General Walker is the President of the Honourable Artillery Company, Army Rugby and Army Winter Sports.
Married, with three daughters, he lives in Herefordshire.
Chief of the General Staff
The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is the professional head of the Army, with responsibility for developing and generating military capability from an integrated Army (Regular and Reserve) and for maintaining the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale of the Service.
The CGS reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and, as a Service COS, has a right of direct access to the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister. The CGS is a member of the Defence Council and the Army Board, the Armed Forces Committee, the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Senior Appointments Committee.
Responsibilities
The Chief of the General Staff:
- maintains the institutional health of the Army by exercising Full Command responsibility for all Army personnel
- ensures the efficient and effective governance of the service
- chairs the Executive Committee of the Army Board and the Army Command Group
- contributes to the conduct of defence higher level business, with a particular responsibility for providing specialist advice on Army matters
- develops future Army capability within the context of Defence strategic direction and resource allocation
- leads the senior management team of the British Army
Previous roles in government
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Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations)