James Swift
Swift in 2019
Born (1967-10-06) 6 October 1967
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1989–2023
RankLieutenant General
UnitRoyal Regiment of Wales
Royal Welsh
Commands held3rd (United Kingdom) Division
20th Armoured Brigade
2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh
Battles/warsIraq War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Lieutenant General James Francis Pardoe Swift, CB, OBE (born 6 October 1967) is a retired senior British Army officer.

Early life and education

Swift was born on 6 October 1967 in Bottisham, Cambridgeshire, England. He was educated at Netherhall School and Hills Road Sixth Form College. He studied chemistry at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1989; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1992.[1]

Military career

Swift was commissioned in to the Royal Regiment of Wales on 1 September 1989.[2] He served as commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Welsh during the Iraq War,[3] for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on 25 July 2008.[4] He became Commander of the 20th Armoured Brigade in May 2012.[1]

Swift was appointed Director of Strategy in March 2016;[5] the post was re-titled as Assistant Chief of the General Staff in September 2018.[6] He became General Officer Commanding the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division in November 2018.[7] It was announced on 30 January 2020 that Swift would become Chief of Defence People (CDP), succeeding Lieutenant General Richard Nugee in late February 2020.[8] Swift was promoted to lieutenant general on 27 February 2020,[9] and retired from the army on 25 April 2023.[10]

Swift was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2023 New Year Honours.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Swift, Maj. Gen. James Francis Pardoe, (born 6 Oct. 1967), Director Strategy, Army Headquarters, since 2016". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U287162.
  2. ↑ "No. 51948". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 November 1989. p. 13727.
  3. ↑ "Royal Welsh come back from Iraq to heroes' welcome". Barry Today. 14 December 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "No. 58776". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 July 2008. p. 11244.
  5. ↑ "Senior Army Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "What's in a name? Title changes for two senior British Army leaders". British Army. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "MoD announces new faces in command". Salisbury Journal. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Major General James Swift appointed as Chief of Defence People". UK Ministry of Defence. London, United Kingdom. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "No. 62947". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2020. p. 5503.
  10. ↑ "No. 64035". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 April 2023. p. 8358.
  11. ↑ "No. 63918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N3.
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