Lieutenant General Charlie Stickland CB OBE RM

Chief of Joint Operations Permanent Joint Headquarters (UK)

Lieutenant General Stickland was appointed Chief Joint Operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in November 2021, responsible for the command and integration of UK global operations.

He previously served as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Operations & Commitments in the MOD in May 2019 and was intimately involved in all UK Resilience and Overseas operations, notably the national COVID response and Operation PITTING, the UK’s extraction from Afghanistan.

Lieutenant General Stickland joined the Royal Marines in 1987. His initial Commando and Fleet time saw service across the globe from the High North to the Far East. His initial staff roles were in the MOD, initially in Communications and Information Services procurement and later as the MOD lead for West and Southern Africa coordinating military activity across the region.

This was followed by a period of back-to-back operational activity serving as the Senior UK Liaison Officer in Baghdad (2005-6); Chief of Staff of the UK Task Force in Afghanistan; and commanding 42 Commando Group in Afghanistan (2008-9).

On promotion to Colonel, he led the Fleet Operational Policy Team seeking to optimise Naval Service operational output. This was followed by the role of Chief of Staff of the Joint Force Headquarters then followed with a focus on UK crisis response, dealing with the consequences of the Arab Spring in the Levant, Gulf and North Africa.

On promotion to Brigadier in 2014, Lieutenant General Stickland assumed command of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines where he enhanced key US, French and Dutch partnerships, and post-Afghanistan, refocussed the Formation on its Commando and amphibious role. Following this, he was appointed Chief Joint Force Operations as the military lead for UK Non-Discretionary Crisis Response.

Promoted to Major General in 2017, he became Commander UK Amphibious Forces, and commanded the European Union’s counter piracy, Operation ATALANTA, in January 2018. He assumed the concurrent role of Commandant General Royal Marines.

He is married with three children.