officer lieutenant general sir jim born february governor gibraltar retired officer held staff positions early career commanding commando brigadier held high level staff posts london director nato policy second british liaison pentagon shortly september attacks involved planning subsequent invasion afghanistan newspaper later moment career took planning invasion took command serving afghanistan led brigade start iraq war supported units british_army making british officer command american troops second world war commanded men heavy resistance iraqi forces early days war general officer served commandant general royal marines professional head dual appointment commander amphibious forces years post returned iraq command multi national attracted media attention outspoken remarks alleging iranian support insurgents iraq field post lieutenant general deputy commander afghanistan held position peak assisted commander military strategy combat retired later appointed governor gibraltar taking office december retired early september early personal life son educated chester attending london gained degree systems management married elizabeth née couple son officer daughter lists interests sailing running early military career originally applied join british_army failed selection process applied join commissioned promoted acting lieutenant granted substantive rank october served signals officer war holding variety staff positions junior ranks promoted major assumed command commando position served manoeuvres asia south_africa brigadier served director nato policy senior staff post prior attending pulled course completion pentagon act liaison british chief defence staff american chairman immediate aftermath terrorist attacks united_states pentagon involved joint american british planning subsequent war terror times called assignment moment career took keen command action afghanistan took command deployed afghanistan command personnel succeeding replacement controversial led speculation politically motivated lane criticism public contradiction secretary state defence readiness troops brigade tour duty iraq early beginning iraq war led commando supporting units armoured division troops multiple nations including marines time american troops operational command british officer second world war commando overall command united_states navy seals secured oil fields peninsula prevent burned days ground operation commando moved peninsula took port city encountered resistance fifth day ground campaign commanded brigade heavy fighting outskirts commented fighting intense predicted saying planning assumption advancing coalition forces simply sweep past invasion prompted journalist reported war attached describe lean thinking man officers professional job command late conducted visit prior country ascension european_union nato alpine warfare training led troops culminating day brigade undertook cold weather training norway appointed commander order british empire october given honorary appointment queen high command attained general officer status promotion major general appointed double post commander amphibious forces relinquished june succeeded taking staff post chief staff capability appointment chief staff operations appointed honorary colonel march succeeding lieutenant general sir deployed iraq taking command multi national outspoken subject improvised explosive devices responsible coalition casualties accusing neighbouring iran aiding failing prevent smuggling munitions border iraq added simply don know iranian government policy simply groups iran purposes controlled having promoted lieutenant general november army lieutenant general riley deputy commander afghanistan position occupied november tenure afghanistan peaked helped overall commander troops country new strategy combat included increase number troops succeeded post lieutenant general later general sir end return afghanistan wrote article guardian newspaper opined nato led forces country making difference situation improving government required assistance argued troops necessarily mean violence saying experience shows initial spike insurgents cleared violence reduces lower levels providing sense security depends physical troop presence start need sufficient troops protect people convince government control supported moment sufficient prevent return insurgents went backbone nato alliance gives coalition willing match gives authority legitimacy based consensus members concluded given strength military coalition political financial commitment building long term stability afghanistan region failure contemplated awarded degree officer given permission wear decoration recognition distinguished services coalition operations afghanistan retired active service appointed knight commander queen birthday honours civilian career retiring operations manager dealing issues middle_east went company programme director years appointed governor british overseas territory gibraltar took office december announced relinquish post early resigned effectively september concluding civilian career working cited resignation frustration lack action spanish aggression gibraltar sovereign waters largely ceremonial office governor later denied personal inability act events leaving office deputy governor sworn interim governor gibraltar day official departure served interim governor sir resigned announced october lieutenant general succeeding governor gibraltar effective
James Dutton (Royal Marines officer)