Military & Current Events Update

Major General Doug Chalmers was born in Belfast in 1966. He was educated at Bearwood College and more recently Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he read International Relations. His military service commenced in 1984 with 18 months in the ranks before he was commissioned into the 1st Battalion of The Royal Irish Rangers. He served with them in Germany, England, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Scotland. In addition to regimental command and staff appointments, he served tours with UNTAC in Cambodia and both UNPROFOR and IFOR in Bosnia. He also graduated from the US Army Ranger School and instructed Section Commanders at the British Infantry Battle School during his early years.

Following a Brigade Headquarters staff assignment he attended both the US Army Command and General Staff College and the US School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On graduation he took up the plans appointment in HQ 1st (UK) Armoured Division. His tenure in that post included deployments to Oman, on Ex SAIF SAREEA II, and Kuwait/Iraq on Op TELIC. On promotion to Lt Col he moved to become the Military Assistant to the UK Chief of Joint Operations. From July 2007 to December 2009 he commanded the 2nd Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. This period included the final moments of the Army’s contribution to the Northern Ireland campaign, an ISR Task Force rotation in Kosovo and a full training cycle. The battalion then became the UK Theatre Reserve for Afghanistan. It was a busy time for the battalion during which he personally deployed 3 times to command battle groups in Helmand Province.

On promotion to Colonel he was appointed Chief of Staff 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, attending the UK Higher Command and Staff Course in 2011. He was selected for promotion to Major General later that year and took command of 12th Mechanized Brigade in October. He deployed back to Helmand in March 2012, with the Brigade, and commanded the UK, Danish and Estonian Task Force throughout the 2012 fighting season. On return from Afghanistan he led the Brigades reset to a contingent posture, regenerating the United Kingdoms Lead Armoured Task Force. On handing over command he moved to Washington to become CDS’s Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the US Joint Staff before taking up the J3 portfolio at the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters. He joined III Corps, on promotion, from that appointment in July 2015.