general sir born retired british_army officer commander april retirement april early career spent staff field posts europe far_east spent time working education sent germany served tour duty balkans returning took staff position went tour northern_ireland military assistant chief general staff served balkans afghanistan early days staff position iraq brigadier served second tour northern_ireland time brigade commander appointed assistant chief staff commitments senior staff position promoted major general deployed iraq second time time baghdad responsibility joint operations served briefly sent afghanistan second time headed unit provide incentives soldiers surrender later deputy chief defence staff operations military career commissioned second lieutenant probation university september studied philosophy politics economics oxford completed university time army officer june commission confirmed promoted lieutenant served positions europe far_east staff position london promoted captain november took master degree attended british_army staff college field officer promotion major september sent germany position chief staff deployed balkans served briefly balkans desk officer battery commander battery 1st regiment royal horse artillery included tour duty northern_ireland promoted lieutenant colonel june promotion served bosnia military assistant chief general staff went command headquartered deployed balkans end appointed chief staff 3rd united_kingdom division immediately deployed afghanistan division assisted establishing serving afghanistan returned attend promotion colonel june deployment iraq chief staff stationed high command promoted brigadier december june promotion posted northern_ireland commanding belfast position held years northern_ireland appointed assistant chief staff commitments day today responsibility british_army operations attained general officer status promoted substantive rank major general appointed deputy commanding general iraq posted baghdad responsibility overseeing joint operations conducted multinational force having served iraq returned staff post april chief staff appointment short lived october deployed afghanistan short notice establish force unit effort persuade fighters rejoin society offering alternatives fighting jobs training role hand picked commander troops afghanistan defended controversial scheme interviews saying buying insurgents battlefield idea community turning later interview said absolutely convinced time right opportunity people aren going realize keen position february assistant chief general staff deputy chief defence staff operations rank lieutenant general january announced appointed commander april paid salary department making highly paid people british public sector time april handed command general sir work authored book business general transform business seven secrets military success published guest speaker including university_of_oxford chairman firepower appointed colonel commandant personal life married daughters honours decorations appointed member order british empire recognition service operations republic yugoslavia promoted officer order british empire new year honours april promoted commander order british empire recognition distinguished services afghanistan period april september appointed knight commander birthday honours awarded queen valuable service services iraq previous year second coming recognition service northern_ireland awarded degree officer recognition distinguished services coalition operations iraq
Richard Barrons