Years of service 1969–2004 Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch Royal Marines | Role Royal Marines officer Name David Wilson Rank Major general | |
Commands held Special Boat Service
45 Commando
3 Commando Brigade Battles/wars Operation Banner
Kosovo War
Iraq War Awards Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire Battles and wars Operation Banner, Kosovo War, Iraq War | ||
Major General David Wilson, CB, CBE (born 1949) is a Royal Marines officer who briefly served as Commandant General Royal Marines from February to August 2004.
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Military career
Wilson joined the Royal Marines in 1969 and went on to serve in Northern Ireland in 1987. He commanded the Special Boat Service as well as being Commanding Officer of 45 Commando from 1993 and Commander of 3 Commando Brigade from 1998. From December 1999 he was Chief of Staff at NATO Joint Headquarters North. He was later deployed to Kosovo where he became co-chairman of the Kosovo Security Committee. He was the Senior British Representative to CENTCOM at Tampa, Florida from October 2002 to October 2003 (in which role he was involved in planning for the Iraq War) and became Commandant General Royal Marines in February 2004 before retiring later that year.
Later life
In retirement, he became Director of a United Nations programme engaged in disarming warlords and disbanding illegal armed groups in Afghanistan.
Honours and decorations
In 1987, Wilson was mentioned in despatches "in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland".