Strategic Command welcomes Lt Gen Robert Magowan as new Deputy Commander
Above:
Lieutenant General R A Magowan CB CBE begins his post as Strategic Command’s Deputy Commander.
Courtesy MoD / Crown Copyright
Lieutenant General Rob Magowan brings an abundance of knowledge and experience from more than 30 years’ service in the Royal Marines, for which he has been appointed CB, CBE and awarded the United States Legion of Merit.
Lieutenant General Magowan has served in a variety of operational roles, worked widely across Whitehall; been the Commodore Naval Personnel Strategy; and Commanded the Joint Forces Intelligence Group. 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. He then took up the post of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Capability) and Chief of Staff Navy Command HQ in late 2017 before assuming the post of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability and Force Design).
In his new role his responsibilities will include:
- leading multi-domain integration
- developing and delivering the Command Plan, the UKStratCom Strategy, programmes and policy
- leading the Command’s Health, Safety and Environment Protection activity; and
- be Strategic Command’s Principal Personnel Officer by representing the command’s interest with Chief of Defence People on all aspects of the Defence People Programme.
General Sir Patrick Sanders said: "I welcome Lt Gen Rob Magowan to UKStratCom. With the leadership and experience he will bring to the role as Deputy Commander, I know we will continue the positive momentum as we embed the transition to Strategic Command.
Lieutenant General Rob Magowan said: "I am delighted to be joining UKStratCom. This is truly an exciting time for the Command as we continue our transformation and assume greater responsibilities across defence. As we drive forward, I firmly believe that our people are what makes this Command the success it is, and I am proud to be representing and working alongside you all."
Courtesy MoD / Crown Copyright
UKStratCom
Following Lord Levene’s report on defence reform in 2011, it was recommended that a joint service organisation should be formed within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to better support our UK Armed Forces.
In 2012, the Joint Forces Command (JFC) was established and became responsible for joint operations, intelligence, medical services, information systems, training and education, special forces and our overseas bases.
In 2018, seven years after Levene’s initial recommendation, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Sir Nick Carter and the Permanent Secretary for the MoD, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, directed that a review of JFC should be undertaken. The purpose of the review was to identify ways that JFC could be adapted to better support the MoD’s outputs.
The outcome of the review validated the contribution of JFC to date, but it went further in recommending that JFC should take on an enhanced role with more responsibilities on behalf of defence, these include:
- providing leadership in the cyber domain for the MoD
- generating and developing capabilities for defence across the land, sea, air, cyber and space domains
- preparing for and coordinating joint operations
- educating and training the joint force of today and of the future
- leading in the information environment for defence and providing the MoD’s information and communication technology systems.
JFC was renamed Strategic Command to better reflect the contribution it makes to defence.
