David Rutherford-Jones | |
---|---|
Born | 11 August 1958 |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1977–2011 |
Rank | Major General |
Service number | 504501 |
Commands held |
The Light Dragoons 20th Armoured Brigade RMA Sandhurst |
Battles/wars |
Kosovo War Iraq War |
Awards | Companion of the
Order of the Bath Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service |
Major General David John Rutherford-Jones CB (born 11 August 1958) is a retired British Army officer and former Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Rutherford-Jones was born on 11 August 1958 [1] and educated at Lancing College, West Sussex, from 1972 to 1976. [2]
After attending the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Rutherford-Jones was commissioned into the 15th/19th Hussars as a second lieutenant on 6 August 1977. [3] He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 August 1979, [4] to captain on 6 February 1984, [5] and major on 30 September 1990. [6] In 1991, he commanded B squadron, 15th/19th Hussars during a 6-month tour of duty as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. [1]
Rutherford-Jones served as Chief of Staff of 1st Mechanised Brigade from 1993 to 1996. [1] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1996. [7] He served at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as a Staff Officer (Class 1) in the Joint Operation Centre from 1996 to 1997 [1] and was Chief of Staff of 3rd (UK) Division prior to the Kosovo War. [1] He was then commanding officer of The Light Dragoons. [1] While CO, the regiment served for a time in the Balkans. [8] He was promoted to colonel on 30 June 2000, [9] and to brigadier on 31 December 2001 with seniority from 30 June 2001. [10]
He commanded 20th Armoured Brigade during tours of duty in Kosovo (2001/02) and Iraq (2003/04). In 2005 to 2007, he was Director of the Royal Armoured Corps. [11] On 14 August 2007, he was promoted to major general and appointed Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. [12] In September 2009, he became Military Secretary, retiring from the post in February 2011. [11]
He retired on 25 May 2011. [13]
Upon retirement, he became Chief Executive of the charity Morden College. [2] He has been a trustee of Blind Veterans UK since 2011. [8]
Rutherford-Jones is married to Sarah and has two children: George and Alice. [14]
Rutherford-Jones was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia during the period 1st October 2001 to 31st March 2002". [15] He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours. [16]
He was appointed Aide de Camp to Queen Elizabeth II on 12 December 2005. [17] His tenure expired on 1 October 2007. [18] On 31 October 2009, he was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Army Music. [19] [20]