Allegiance United Kingdom Name John Crackett Years of service 1980 – present Service/branch British Army | Service number 511139 Rank Major-general Other work Businessman Unit Royal Corps of Signals | |
Born 19 December 1958 (age 65) ( 1958-12-19 ) Commands held Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) Awards Order of the Bath, Territorial Decoration, Volunteer Reserves Service Medal | ||
Major General John Crackett, (born 19 December 1958) is a British businessman, an officer of the Army Reserve and the senior reservist of the British Armed Forces. He was appointed Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) in April 2013.
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Early life
Crackett was educated at Hymers College, an independent school in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. He read engineering at the University of Cambridge.
Career
In his civilian career, Crackett has held high positions in business relating to electricity generation.
Following graduation, he underwent postgraduate training with the Central Electricity Generating Board. He joined National Power following the privatisation of the UK electricity market in 1990. In 1995, he joined Ironbridge Power Station and was appointed Station Manager in 1997. In 2000, he was controller of TXU's power stations in the UK. He was managing director of Central Networks, which rebranded as E.ON UK in 2004. He served in a number of roles in E.ON UK. He was a member of the board with responsibility for Safety, Health, and Environment, Managing Director of Distribution, CEO and chairman. He retired in 2011.
Since 1996, he has been a trustee of Marches Energy Agency. In July 2011, he was appointed a non-executive board member of the Office of Nuclear Regulation.
Military service
On 12 June 1980, Crackett was commissioned into the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve of the British Army as a second lieutenant. He was given the service number 511139. On 1 April 1983, he transferred from the Group B Unposted List to Group A of the Royal Corps of Signals, Territorial Army. He retained the rank of second lieutenant (on probation) with seniority from 12 June 1980.
Crackett was promoted to colonel on 1 December 2002, and to brigadier on 17 August 2009.
On 1 April 2013, Crackett was promoted to major general and appointed Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets). This makes him the most senior reservist of the British Armed Forces. Crackett was appointed to the Army Board in April 2016.
Personal life
Crackett is married and has two daughters: Victoria and Ruth.
Crackett is a Chartered Engineer. He is a Fellow of Institute of Electrical Engineers and a Fellow of Institute of Mechanical Engineers. He is a Member of the Worshipful Company of Engineers.
Crackett has been awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) for twelve years service in the Territorial Army and received his first clasp in August 1999. He has been awarded the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal for ten years service in the reserves. He was awarded his first clasp to the medal in September 2008. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2015 New Year Honours.
On 1 November 2011, he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 37 Signal Regiment (Volunteers).