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Robert Magowan

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Sir Robert Magowan
Magowan in 2022
Born (1967-09-12) 12 September 1967 (age 57)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchRoyal Marines
Years of service1989–present
RankLieutenant General
CommandsController of the Navy
Commandant General Royal Marines
30 Commando Information Exploitation Group
Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command
Battles / warsOperation Banner
Iraq War
Operation Atalanta
War in Afghanistan
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)
Alma materUniversity of Southampton
Spouse(s)Charlotte Magowan
Children2 daughters

Lieutenant General Sir Robert Andrew Magowan, KCB, CBE (born 12 September 1967) is a senior Royal Marines officer who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability) since May 2022. He previously served as Commandant General Royal Marines from 2016 to 2017 and again from 2021 to 2022.

Early life and education

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Magowan was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham and the University of Southampton.[1]

Military career

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Magowan was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1989.[2] He became Plans Officer at Headquarters 3rd Mechanised Division in 2001, in which role he was deployed to Afghanistan, and then became second-in-command of 42 Commando with which he took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] He joined the Cabinet Office Assessment Staff in 2003, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours,[3] and posted to the Afghan Drugs Inter-departmental Unit in 2005, before becoming commanding officer of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group in 2006. He commanded IX Battle Group in Afghanistan in 2007.[4]

Magowan receiving the US Legion of Merit from General Robert B. Neller.

Magowan became a Deputy Head in Defence Intelligence in 2009 and Chief of Staff to the National Contingent Commander at the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul in 2012,[1][5] for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the October 2013 Operational Honours.[6] The award recognised "his outstanding contribution in strengthening bonds between British forces and the Afghans".[2] He was appointed Commodore, Naval Personnel Strategy at Navy Command Headquarters in March 2013,[1][5] Commandant General Royal Marines in June 2016, and commander of Operation Atalanta in June as well.[7][8][9]

Magowan was awarded the United States Commander of the Legion of Merit by General Robert Neller on 10 October 2017.[10] The following month, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) and Controller of the Navy, before becoming Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability and Force Design) in December 2018.[5] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2018 Birthday Honours.[11] He became Deputy Commander Joint Forces Command, renamed as Strategic Command in January 2020.[12][13] Magowan was promoted to lieutenant general on 22 January 2020.[14][15] In April 2021, he was once more appointed as Commandant General Royal Marines, becoming the first person to hold the position twice, along with being the first person to serve in the position as a lieutenant general since 1996.[16] He became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability) in May 2022.[17]

Magowan was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2024 New Year Honours.[18]

Personal life

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Magowan is married to Charlotte and together they have two young daughters. He is an accomplished mountaineer, a keen reader of European political history and an amateur cook.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "NAVFOR Somalia". European Union. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Surrey Royal Marine Brigadier awarded CBE for his work in Afghanistan". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. ^ "No. 57509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2005. p. 5.
  4. ^ Southby-Tailyour, Ewan (2009). Three Command Brigade, Helmand, Afghanistan. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0091926960.
  5. ^ a b c "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Operational Honours and Awards List: 4 October 2013". Government of the United Kingdom. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Philip, Duke of Edinburgh". Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  8. ^ "EU appoints new operation Commander for EU NAVFOR Somalia". European Union. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  9. ^ The Daily Telegraph (London), 2016, General Officer Appointments, The Daily Telegraph (London), 8 April 2016, Edition 1; National Edition, p.28
  10. ^ "Alamy". Alamy. US Marines Photo. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Robert MAGOWAN – Order of the Bath". The Gazette. H.M. The Queen. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  12. ^ @ComdJFC_UK (19 November 2019). "Ahead of his start as Deputy Commander JFC, Major General Rob Magowan presented the 'Team of the Year' accolade at this year's Defence Intelligence Awards. Congratulations to all of the award winners. #OneJFC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Strategic Command welcome new Deputy Commander". Strategic Command, UK. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  14. ^ Mackie, Colin (5 December 2019). "Admirals Current December 2019" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 6 December 2019. (to be promoted): Lieutenant-General Robert A. Magowan: Deputy Commander, Joint Forces Command, January 2020
  15. ^ "No. 62915". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 February 2020. p. 2442.
  16. ^ "New Head Of Royal Marines Takes Up Role". Forces News. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Lieutenant General Rob Magowan CB CBE". Gov.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  18. ^ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N2.
  19. ^ "Royal Navy Biography" (PDF).
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant General Royal Marines
2016–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Controller of the Navy
2017–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command
2020–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commandant General Royal Marines
2021–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability)
2022–present 		Incumbent
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