Michael Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Michael Walker | |
|---|---|
 General Sir Michael Walker Photo: Crown copyright |
|
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1966 to 2006 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | The Royal Anglian Regiment 20 Armoured Brigade Eastern District Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Land Command Chief of the General Staff |
| Battles/wars | Bosnian War |
| Awards | Order of the Bath Order of St Michael and St George Order of the British Empire Aide-de-camp |
General Michael John Dawson Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham, GCB, CMG, CBE (born 7 July 1944) was the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) in the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces from May 2003 until April 2006.
He succeeded Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, who had held the post during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Between 2000 and 2003, he was the Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. Walker retired on the 28th of April 2006, and has been succeeded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup who was formerly the Chief of the Air Staff.
Walker attended Woodhouse Grove School near Leeds where he was head boy. From 1966 to 1982, he served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, becoming its Commanding Officer in 1985. Between 1987 and 1989, he commanded 20 Armoured Brigade, between 1989 to 1991 as Chief of Staff 1st Corps and in 1991 and 1992 2nd Infantry Division. In the following he was General Officer Commanding of the Eastern District, and from 1992 to 1994 Assistant Chief of the General Staff. In 1994, he was made Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, until 1997, when he became Aide de Camp General to The Queen. In 1995 and 1996 Walker was Commander of the Implementation Force in Bosnia and from 1997 to 2000 Commander-in-Chief, Land Command.
On 24 November 2006, it was announced that he would receive a life peerage, and on 19 December he was created Baron Walker of Aldringham, of Aldringham in the County of Suffolk.
[edit] References
- Biography at number10.gov.uk. Retrieved on November 24, 2006.
| Military Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Roger Wheeler |
Chief of the General Staff 2000–2003 |
Succeeded by Sir Michael Jackson |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Boyce |
Chief of the Defence Staff 2003–2006 |
Succeeded by Sir Jock Stirrup |
 |
This biographical article related to the military of the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
