Richard Barrons
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Richard Lawson Barrons CBE is a British Army
officer in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. He is currently Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations).
Barrons' early career was spent in various staff and field posts in the UK, across Europe, and in the Far East
. He also spent time working at the Ministry of Defence
and in education. Sent to Germany in 1991, Barrons then served his first tour of duty in the Balkans
in 1993. Returning to the UK, Barrons took up a staff position and went on to do a tour in Northern Ireland
and then to become a Military Assistant
, first to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
and then to the Chief of the General Staff
. Between 2000 and 2003, Barrons served again in the Balkans, in Afghanistan during the early days of ISAF
, and then in a staff position in Basra
, Iraq
.
As a brigadier
in 2003, Barrons served his second tour in Northern Ireland, this time as a brigade commander. In 2005, he was appointed to Assistant Chief of Staff, Commitments, a senior staff position. He was promoted to major general
in 2008 and deployed to Iraq for the second time, this time to Baghdad
, with responsibility for joint operations. He then served briefly with the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps before being sent to Afghanistan for the second time, when he headed an ISAF reintegration unit to provide incentives for Taliban soldiers to surrender.
Barrons is married and has two children.
(on probation) (university cadetship) into the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 2 September 1977. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at The Queen's College, Oxford
and completed his university cadetship, becoming a full-time army officer on 21 June 1980. His commission was confirmed in 1981, with seniority from 17 May 1977 and he was promoted to lieutenant with seniority from 17 May 1979. Between 1980 and 1990, he served in various positions across Europe and the Far East as well as in a staff position at the Ministry of Defence
in London. He took a master's degree
in Defence Administration in 1990, after which he attended the British Army's Staff College, Camberley
in 1991 and was promoted to captain
came on 19 November 1983.
Barrons' first field officer
promotion was to major in September 1991. He was sent to Germany
to take up a position as chief of staff, 11 Armoured Brigade, which then deployed to the Balkans in 1993. Barrons then served briefly as Balkans desk officer at the Directorate of Military Operations and before becoming company commander
of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
from 1994–1996, which included a tour of duty in Northern Ireland
. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1993 "in recognition of service during
operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia", before promotion to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1997. After promotion, he served again in Bosnia, as Military Assistant
(MA) to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
and then, back in the UK, as MA to the Chief of the General Staff
.
Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999, Barrons went on to command 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
, headquartered in Hohne
Germany, with which he deployed to the Balkans again in 2001. At the end of 2001, Barrons was appointed chief of staff of the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division and immediately deployed to Afghanistan
, where the division assisted in establishing the International Security Assistance Force
. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his "gallant and distinguished services" in Afghanistan, for which he was also awarded the American Legion of Merit
, and given permission to wear the decoration. After serving in Afghanistan, Barrons returned to the UK to attend the Higher Command and Staff Course
, before promotion to colonel in June 2002. Barrons' next deployment was to Iraq
in 2003 as chief of staff, Multinational Division (South East)
, stationed in Basra
.
on 31 December 2003, with seniority from 30 June 2003. Upon promotion, he was posted to Northern Ireland
, commanding 39 Infantry Brigade
in Belfast
, a position he held for two years. In 2004, Barrons was awarded his first Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
, for services in the Iraq in 2003, his second coming in 2006 in recognition of 2005 service in Northern Ireland
. After Northern Ireland, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff, Commitments in 2005, with day-today responsibility for British Army operations.
Barrons attained general officer status in 2008, when he was promoted to the substantive rank of major general
and appointed Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. He was posted to Baghdad
, where he had responsibility for overseeing joint operations conducted by the multinational force and the Iraqi Army
. Having served in Iraq, he returned to the UK to take up a staff post in April 2009 as chief of staff to the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), but the appointment was short-lived as, in October 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan at short notice to establish a force reintegration unit, part of an effort to persuade Taliban fighters to rejoin society by offering alternatives to fighting, such as jobs and training—a role for which he was hand-picked by American General Stanley A. McChrystal
, then commander of all troops in Afghanistan. Barrons defended the controversial scheme in interviews, saying that it was not "about buying insurgents off the battlefield" and that "the idea is that you get the whole community benefiting and turning against the insurgency". In a later interview, Barrons also said "I am absolutely convinced it can be done, and that the time is right. This is an opportunity the Afghan people aren't going to get again. Most of them realize that, and are keen to take it now".
Barrons' position, as of February 2011, was as Assistant Chief of the General Staff
. In May 2011 he became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) in the rank of Lieutenant General.
. As of 2010, Barrons was chairman of Firepower – The Royal Artillery Museum.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. He is currently Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations).
Barrons' early career was spent in various staff and field posts in the UK, across Europe, and in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. He also spent time working at the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and in education. Sent to Germany in 1991, Barrons then served his first tour of duty in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
in 1993. Returning to the UK, Barrons took up a staff position and went on to do a tour in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and then to become a Military Assistant
Military Assistant
A Military Assistant, in the British Armed Forces and many of those derived from them, is an officer appointed to the personal office of a general officer. They are similar to aides-de-camp but generally have a more overtly administrative role....
, first to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was created in 1995 immediately after the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee the civilian implementation of this agreement. The High Representative and the OHR represent the...
and then to the Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
. Between 2000 and 2003, Barrons served again in the Balkans, in Afghanistan during the early days of ISAF
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
, and then in a staff position in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
As a brigadier
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
in 2003, Barrons served his second tour in Northern Ireland, this time as a brigade commander. In 2005, he was appointed to Assistant Chief of Staff, Commitments, a senior staff position. He was promoted to major general
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
in 2008 and deployed to Iraq for the second time, this time to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, with responsibility for joint operations. He then served briefly with the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps before being sent to Afghanistan for the second time, when he headed an ISAF reintegration unit to provide incentives for Taliban soldiers to surrender.
Barrons is married and has two children.
Military career
Barrons was commissioned as a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
(on probation) (university cadetship) into the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 2 September 1977. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
and completed his university cadetship, becoming a full-time army officer on 21 June 1980. His commission was confirmed in 1981, with seniority from 17 May 1977 and he was promoted to lieutenant with seniority from 17 May 1979. Between 1980 and 1990, he served in various positions across Europe and the Far East as well as in a staff position at the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in London. He took a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Defence Administration in 1990, after which he attended the British Army's Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1991 and was promoted to captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
came on 19 November 1983.
Barrons' first field officer
Field officer
A field officer is an army, marine, or air force commissioned officer senior in rank to a company officer but junior to a general officer; in some navies, it is an officer who is a Lieutenant Commander, Commander, or Captain....
promotion was to major in September 1991. He was sent to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to take up a position as chief of staff, 11 Armoured Brigade, which then deployed to the Balkans in 1993. Barrons then served briefly as Balkans desk officer at the Directorate of Military Operations and before becoming company commander
Company Commander
A company commander is the commanding officer of a company, a military unit which typically consists of 100 to 350 soldiers, often organized into three or four smaller units called platoons....
of B Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. It currently serves in the armoured field artillery role, and is equipped with the AS-90 self-propelled gun...
from 1994–1996, which included a tour of duty in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1993 "in recognition of service during
operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia", before promotion to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1997. After promotion, he served again in Bosnia, as Military Assistant
Military Assistant
A Military Assistant, in the British Armed Forces and many of those derived from them, is an officer appointed to the personal office of a general officer. They are similar to aides-de-camp but generally have a more overtly administrative role....
(MA) to the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was created in 1995 immediately after the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee the civilian implementation of this agreement. The High Representative and the OHR represent the...
and then, back in the UK, as MA to the Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
.
Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999, Barrons went on to command 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based in Caen Barracks, Hohne, Germany.-Current role:...
, headquartered in Hohne
Hohne
Hohne is a municipality in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany, east of the county town of Celle. It includes the three former parishes of Hohne, Helmerkamp and Spechtshorn...
Germany, with which he deployed to the Balkans again in 2001. At the end of 2001, Barrons was appointed chief of staff of the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division and immediately deployed to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, where the division assisted in establishing the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his "gallant and distinguished services" in Afghanistan, for which he was also awarded the American Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, and given permission to wear the decoration. After serving in Afghanistan, Barrons returned to the UK to attend the Higher Command and Staff Course
Higher Command and Staff Course
The Higher Command and Staff Course is a staff course for senior military officers of the United Kingdom armed forces and allies. It is taught at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom....
, before promotion to colonel in June 2002. Barrons' next deployment was to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 2003 as chief of staff, Multinational Division (South East)
Multi-National Division (South-East) (Iraq)
Multi-National Division was a British commanded division responsible for security in the south east of Iraq from 2003 to 2009. It was responsible for the large city of Basra and its headquarters were located at Basra Airport. The division was initially responsible for the governorates of Al...
, stationed in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
.
High command
Barrons was promoted to brigadierBrigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
on 31 December 2003, with seniority from 30 June 2003. Upon promotion, he was posted to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, commanding 39 Infantry Brigade
39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
The British 39th Infantry Brigade was a military formation of the British Army that was first established during World War I and reformed in the 1950s.-World Wars:...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, a position he held for two years. In 2004, Barrons was awarded his first Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
The Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service is a British military award that recognises meritorious service during, or in support of, operations...
, for services in the Iraq in 2003, his second coming in 2006 in recognition of 2005 service in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. After Northern Ireland, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff, Commitments in 2005, with day-today responsibility for British Army operations.
Barrons attained general officer status in 2008, when he was promoted to the substantive rank of major general
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
and appointed Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. He was posted to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, where he had responsibility for overseeing joint operations conducted by the multinational force and the Iraqi Army
Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
. Having served in Iraq, he returned to the UK to take up a staff post in April 2009 as chief of staff to the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), but the appointment was short-lived as, in October 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan at short notice to establish a force reintegration unit, part of an effort to persuade Taliban fighters to rejoin society by offering alternatives to fighting, such as jobs and training—a role for which he was hand-picked by American General Stanley A. McChrystal
Stanley A. McChrystal
Stanley Allen McChrystal is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. His last assignment was as Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan...
, then commander of all troops in Afghanistan. Barrons defended the controversial scheme in interviews, saying that it was not "about buying insurgents off the battlefield" and that "the idea is that you get the whole community benefiting and turning against the insurgency". In a later interview, Barrons also said "I am absolutely convinced it can be done, and that the time is right. This is an opportunity the Afghan people aren't going to get again. Most of them realize that, and are keen to take it now".
Barrons' position, as of February 2011, was as Assistant Chief of the General Staff
Assistant Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
-Responsibilities:The Assistant Chief of the General Staff supports the Chief of the General Staff in his responsibilities, sets the conditions for the British Army to contribute to success on operations, ensures coherence across the 'Defence Lines of Development' and develops the Army of the...
. In May 2011 he became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operations) in the rank of Lieutenant General.
Other work
Barrons co-authored a book, The Business General: Transform your business using seven secrets of military success, published by Random House, with Deborah Tom in 2006. He has also lectured as a guest speaker, including at the University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. As of 2010, Barrons was chairman of Firepower – The Royal Artillery Museum.