Brigadier Rich Cantrill

Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines

Rich Cantrill joined the Royal Marines in 1996 and spent the majority of his early career in 3 Commando Brigade, as a mountain and cold weather warfare specialist. Early operational service included deployments to Sierra Leone for operations PALLISER and SILKMAN, for which he earned a commendation from the Joint Commander. Promoted Major in 2004, his highlight at this rank was commanding 42 Commando’s L Company on operations in Afghanistan. For his part in HERRICK 9 he was awarded the Military Cross and a commendation from the Canadian Chief of Defence Staff.

Achieving ‘Top Maritime Student’ on Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2010, he was then promoted Lieutenant Colonel and spent two formative years in the MOD as Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Defence for Military Strategy and Operations. For this role he was awarded an OBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list.

Rich returned to 42 Commando in January 2014, as Commanding Officer, spending a varied two years in command that took him all over the world. On promotion to Colonel in 2016 he was assigned as Chief of Staff for both Commander UK Amphibious Forces and the EU’s Operation ATALANTA, countering pirates off the Horn of Africa. He then returned to the MOD in 2018 as an Assistant Head for Counter-terrorism and UK Operations, supporting no-notice counter-terrorism responses and leading departmental work on ‘No Deal’ EU Exit contingency.

Following attendance at Higher Command and Staff Course 20, he was seconded at short notice to the Cabinet Office’s Covid-19 Taskforce, as Chief of Staff to the Director of the C19 Portfolio Management Office.

He assumed command of 3 Commando Brigade on 2 September 2020 and lives in Plymouth with his wife Sarah and three children.