13 Facts About Robert Magowan

Robert Magowan previously served as Commandant General Royal Marines from 2016 to 2017 and again from 2021 to 2022.

Robert Magowan 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.

Robert Magowan 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, and posted to the Afghan Drugs Inter-departmental Unit in 2005, before becoming commanding officer of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group in 2006.

Robert Magowan commanded IX Battle Group in Afghanistan in 2007.

Robert 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, for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the October 2013 Operational Honours.

Robert Magowan was appointed Commodore, Naval Personnel Strategy at Navy Command Headquarters in March 2013, Commandant General Royal Marines in June 2016, and commander of Operation Atalanta in June as well.

Robert Magowan was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2018 Birthday Honours.

Robert Magowan became Deputy Commander Joint Forces Command, renamed as Strategic Command in January 2020.

Robert Magowan was promoted to lieutenant general on 22 January 2020.

Robert Magowan became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff in May 2022.

Robert Magowan was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2024 New Year Honours.

Robert Magowan is married to Charlotte and together they have two young daughters.

Robert Magowan is an accomplished mountaineer, a keen reader of European political history and an amateur cook.