David Rutherford-Jones

David Rutherford-Jones
Born (1958-08-11) 11 August 1958 (age 66)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1977–2011
RankMajor General
Service number504501
CommandsThe Light Dragoons
20th Armoured Brigade
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Battles / warsUnited Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
Kosovo War
Iraq War
AwardsCompanion 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.

Early life

Rutherford-Jones was born on 11 August 1958[1] and educated at Lancing College, West Sussex, from 1972 to 1976.[2]

Military career

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 the 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 the 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]

Rutherford-Jones commanded the 20th Armoured Brigade during tours of duty in Kosovo (2001/02) and Iraq (2003/04). He 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".[11] He became Director of the Royal Armoured Corps in 2005,[12] and was appointed Aide de Camp to Queen Elizabeth II from 12 December 2005 to 1 October 2007.[13][14] On 14 August 2007, he was promoted to major general and appointed Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[15] In September 2009, he became Military Secretary.[12] Rutherford-Jones was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2010 Birthday Honours,[16] and retired from the army on 25 May 2011.[17]

Rutherford-Jones was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Army Music on 31 October 2009.[18][19]

Later life

Upon retirement, Rutherford-Jones became Chief Executive of the charity Morden College.[2] He has been a trustee of Blind Veterans UK since 2011.[8]

Personal life

Rutherford-Jones is married to Sarah and has two children: George and Alice.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f NATO Biography
  2. ^ a b "Notable OLs". Lancing College. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  3. ^ "No. 47328". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 September 1977. p. 11938.
  4. ^ "No. 47943". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 September 1979. p. 11217.
  5. ^ "No. 49639". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 February 1984. p. 1737.
  6. ^ "No. 52288". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1990. p. 15447.
  7. ^ "No. 54453". The London Gazette. 1 July 1996. p. 8911.
  8. ^ a b "Major General David Rutherford-Jones, CB". Blind Veterans UK. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  9. ^ "No. 55901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 July 2000. pp. 7243–7244.
  10. ^ "No. 56446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 2002. p. 171.
  11. ^ "No. 56734". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 October 2002. p. 3.
  12. ^ a b Colin Mackie. "Army Commands 1900–2011 – Senior Army Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  13. ^ "No. 57881". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 January 2006. p. 989.
  14. ^ "No. 58503". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 November 2007. p. 16054.
  15. ^ "No. 58419". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 August 2007. p. 11780.
  16. ^ "No. 59446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2010. p. 2.
  17. ^ "No. 59796". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 2011. p. 10190.
  18. ^ "No. 59231". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 November 2009. p. 18945.
  19. ^ Corps of Army Music
  20. ^ "Major General David Rutherford-Jones". Help for Heroes. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
2007–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Military Secretary
2009–2011 		Succeeded by