Colonel Brian Howard

Commander of 29 EOD & Search Group British Army

Col Howard enlisted in 1993 at the College of Military Education and Training Services. Commissioning in 1995 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst he commanded an infantry trained artisan troop in 23 Pioneer Regiment, deployed to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia and gained a GOC Commendation for exceptionally valuable service. After the Ammunition Technical Officers course, he became Catterick Troop Commander 11 EOD Regiment, passed the High Threat IEDD Operator course, and deployed to Armagh Northern Ireland on Op BANNER. He commanded 3 Weapon Intelligence Section HQ 3rd Infantry Brigade, attended the Junior Division Joint Service Command and Staff Course, then became the Operations Officer for the Northern Ireland Combat Service Support Regiment. Promoting to Maj in 2004, he served as SO2 Plans in the outer office of Director Supply Chain Support, Defence Logistic Organisation, writing the business plan for seven OF5 business areas. He passed the High Threat IEDD Operators course a second time, then gained Independent Command of 321 EOD Squadron through the end of Op BANNER and start of Op HELVETIC. In 2007 he deployed to Afghanistan as the HQ Regional Command South C-IED Branch 2IC in both a staff and exploitation role. Posted to HQ Land Forces as SO2 Combat Service Support, he worked on the drawdown in Iraq then directly supported Major General Deverell in his capacity as Land Forces 2* C-IED Proponent. In 2009 he deployed as the Operations Officer in the 4* HQ ISAF C-IED Branch, again with a secondary exploitation role, where he was awarded the Bronze Star by the United States. As SO2 G3 for 29 EOD & Search Gp he generated the Op HERRICK C-IED Task Force and managed UK Military Aid to the Civil Power EOD task lines. Qualifying in Advanced Manual Techniques and Advanced Radiological and Nuclear Training, he became an EOD Tactical Commander for Op OLYMPICS, then as 11 EOD Regiment Second-in-Command, supported the NATO Summit. Attending the 17th Advanced Command and Staff Course he gained a master’s degree from Kings College London. As SO1 Operations for the 3* Standing Joint Commander (UK) he planned and executed over fourteen operations in an eighteen-month period, including authoring the Op TEMPERER CONPLAN which was later activated twice by the Prime Minister in 2016. Gaining Command of 11 EOD Regiment RLC, he was lucky enough to see its soldiers be awarded with the Firmin Sword of Peace and ‘Heroes at Home’ Millies award for service to the UK public, including response to the Didcot power station collapse, Manchester Arena attack, and tactical command of Joint Defence assets in the response phase of the Salisbury Nerve Agent attack. In Jul 2018, he was posted to the 3rd (UK) Division as SO1 Combat Service Support before assuming the dual post of Commander (Logistic Support) 3 (UK) Division and Deputy Commander 101 Logistic Brigade, deploying on Ex WARFIGHTER three times, supporting Op RESCRIPT and FOURTH BRIDGE. In 2019 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for EOD duties whilst at unit command. In Dec 2021 he was thrilled to become Commander 29 EOD & Search Group.