21 Facts About Richard Barrons

Richard Barrons was Commander Joint Forces Command from April 2013 until his retirement in April 2016.

Richard Barrons spent time working at the Ministry of Defence and in education.

Between 2000 and 2003, Richard Barrons served again in the Balkans, in Afghanistan during the early days of International Security Assistance Force, and then in a staff position in Basra, Iraq.

Richard Barrons was promoted to major general in 2008 and deployed to Iraq for the second time, this time to Baghdad, with responsibility for joint operations.

Richard Barrons then served briefly with the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps before being sent to Afghanistan for the second time, when he headed an ISAF reintegration unit to provide incentives for Taliban soldiers to surrender.

Richard Barrons later became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.

Richard Barrons's commission was confirmed in 1981, with seniority from 17 May 1977 and he was promoted to lieutenant with seniority from 17 May 1979.

Richard Barrons was promoted to captain on 19 November 1983.

Richard Barrons was sent to Germany to take up a position as chief of staff, 11 Armoured Brigade, which then deployed to the Balkans in 1993.

Richard Barrons then served briefly as Balkans desk officer at the Directorate of Military Operations and before becoming battery commander of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery from 1994 to 1996, which included a tour of duty in Northern Ireland.

Richard Barrons was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1997.

Richard Barrons went on to command 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, headquartered in Hohne Germany, with which he deployed to the Balkans again in 2001.

Richard Barrons was promoted to brigadier on 31 December 2003, with seniority from 30 June 2003.

Richard Barrons was posted to Baghdad, where he had responsibility for overseeing joint operations conducted by the multinational force and the Iraqi Army.

Richard Barrons defended the controversial scheme in interviews, saying that it was not "about buying insurgents off the battlefield" and that "the idea is that you get the whole community benefiting and turning against the insurgency".

Richard Barrons co-authored a book, The Business General, published by Vermilion, with Deborah Tom in 2006.

Richard Barrons has lectured as a guest speaker, including at the University of Oxford.

Richard Barrons was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1993 "in recognition of service during operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia", and was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2000 New Year Honours.

Richard Barrons was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2013 Birthday Honours.

In 2004, Richard Barrons was awarded his first Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service for services in Iraq the previous year, his second coming in 2006 in recognition of his service in Northern Ireland in 2005.

Richard Barrons was awarded the United States Legion of Merit "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Iraq".