Lieutenant General Sir Rob Magowan KCB CBE
Biography
Lieutenant General Rob Magowan joined the Royal Marines in 1989, prior to which he studied chemistry at Southampton University. After successfully completing his training he assumed several Troop Command roles, including a tour of Northern Ireland.
He went on to become Assistant to Commander in Chief fleet and completed the US Marine Corps Command and Staff course, also gaining a Masters’ degree.
On returning from the US, Lieutenant General Magowan was posted to HQ 3 UK Division as a plans officer, during which time he was deployed to Afghanistan on Operation FINGAL, the first International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) deployment to Kabul. Following promotion to Lt Col in 2002, he returned to 42 Commando as Second in Command, deploying to both Kuwait and Iraq for Operation TELIC 1.
2003 saw him begin a 3-year stint in London, working in the Cabinet Office before assuming the Deputy Head position in the Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit while acting Colonel in 2005. In 2006, he assumed command of the Royal Marine’s 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, deploying immediately on Operation HERRICK 5 to Helmand province. He was promoted to full Colonel upon taking up the Deputy Head post in Defence Intelligence in 2009.
After successfully completing the Higher Command and Staff Course in 2011, he was promoted to Brigadier and became the Chief of Staff to the National Contingent Commander in Kabul. In 2013, he assumed the Commodore Naval Personnel Strategy role before becoming Commander Joint Forces Intelligence Group in 2015.
On promotion to Major General in 2016 he became Commandant General Royal Marines and Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces. He also took over as the Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia. In late 2017, he was the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Capability) and Chief of Staff Navy Command HQ, before assuming the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability and Force Design). In January 2020, he assumed the role of Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command. He reassumed the position of Commandant General Royal Marines from April 2021 to November 2022.
He was appointed MBE in 2005 (42 Commando), CBE in 2013 (Afghanistan) and CB in 2018 (Commandant General Royal Marines) and was Knighted (KCB) in the 2024 New Years Honours. He was also awarded the US Legion of Merit for his time as CGRM.
Lieutenant General Rob Magowan assumed his current post, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Capability) in May 2022.
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Capability)
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Capability) is responsible for strategic force development across Defence lines of development, and for making strategic balance of investment recommendations to the Armed Forces Committee and Defence Board. They act as the Defence Authority for Capability Coherence, chair the Military Capability Board and act as the Unified Customer Voice on a number of boards and committees.
They are responsible for the capability planning and delivery of Head Office-retained strategic equipment programmes and are the MOD-level lead for international engagement on capability development issues.