GeneralSir Robert Andrew Magowan, KCB, CBE (born 12 September 1967) is a senior Royal Marines officer who has served as Commander Cyber & Specialist Operations Command since March 2026. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability) (later renamed Deputy Chief the Defence Staff, Force Development) from May 2022 until August 2025. He also previously served as Commandant General Royal Marines from 2016 to 2017 and again from 2021 to 2022.

Early life and education

Magowan was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham and the University of Southampton.[1]

Military career

Magowan was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1989.[2] He became Plans Officer at Headquarters 3rd Mechanised Division in 2001, in which role he was deployed to Afghanistan, and then became second-in-command of 42 Commando with which he took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] He joined the Cabinet Office Assessment Staff in 2003, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Year Honours,[3] and posted to the Afghan Drugs Inter-departmental Unit in 2005, before becoming commanding officer of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group in 2006. He commanded IX Battle Group in Afghanistan in 2007.[4]

Magowan receiving the US Legion of Merit from General Robert B. Neller.

Magowan wurde 2009 stellvertretender Leiter des Verteidigungsnachrichtendienstes und 2012 Stabschef des nationalen Kontingentkommandeurs im Hauptquartier der Internationalen Sicherheitsunterstützungstruppe (ISAF) in Kabul . [ 1 ] [ 5 ] Für diese Verdienste wurde er im Oktober 2013 im Rahmen der Operational Honours zum Commander of the Order of the British Empire ernannt . [ 6 ] Die Auszeichnung würdigte „seinen herausragenden Beitrag zur Stärkung der Beziehungen zwischen britischen Streitkräften und Afghanen“. [ 2 ] Im März 2013 wurde er zum Commodore für Marinepersonalstrategie der Royal Navy ernannt, [ 1 ] [ 5 ] im Juni 2016 zum Kommandanten der Royal Marines und ebenfalls im Juni zum Kommandeur der Operation Atalanta . [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ]

Magowan wurde am 10. Oktober 2017 von General Robert Neller mit dem Orden „United States Commander of the Legion of Merit“ ausgezeichnet. [ 10 ] Im folgenden Monat wurde er zum stellvertretenden Chef des Marinestabes (Fähigkeiten) und Leiter der Marine ernannt , bevor er im Dezember 2018 zum stellvertretenden Chef des Verteidigungsstabes (Fähigkeiten und Streitkräfteplanung) ernannt wurde. [ 5 ] Er wurde im Rahmen der Birthday Honours 2018 zum Companion des Order of the Bath ernannt . [ 11 ] Im Januar 2020 wurde er stellvertretender Kommandeur des Joint Forces Command, das in Strategic Command umbenannt wurde. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Am 22. Januar 2020 wurde Magowan zum Generalleutnant befördert. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] Im April 2021 wurde er erneut zum Kommandanten der Royal Marines ernannt und war damit die erste Person, die diese Position zweimal innehatte, sowie die erste Person seit 1996, die diese Position als Generalleutnant bekleidete. [ 16 ] Im Mai 2022 wurde er stellvertretender Chef des Verteidigungsstabes (Finanzen und Militärische Fähigkeiten). Anfang 2025 wurde diese Position in stellvertretender Chef des Verteidigungsstabes (Streitkräfteentwicklung) umbenannt. [ 17 ] Im August 2025 trat er zurück; sein Nachfolger als stellvertretender Chef des Verteidigungsstabes wurde Air Marshal Tim Jones . [ 18 ]

Magowan was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2024 New Year Honours.[19]

Magowan became General Officer Commanding Cyber & Specialist Operations Command in March 2026.[20][21]

Personal life

Magowan is married to Charlotte and together they have two daughters. He is an accomplished mountaineer, a keen reader of European political history and an amateur cook.[22]

References

  1. ^ abcd"NAVFOR Somalia". European Union. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ^ ab"Surrey Royal Marine Brigadier awarded CBE for his work in Afghanistan". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. ^"No. 57509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2005. p. 5.
  4. ^Southby-Tailyour, Ewan (2009). Three Command Brigade, Helmand, Afghanistan. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0091926960.
  5. ^ abc"Senior Royal Navy appointments"(PDF). Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  6. ^"Operational Honours and Awards List: 4 October 2013". Government of the United Kingdom. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. ^"Philip, Duke of Edinburgh". Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  8. ^"EU appoints new operation Commander for EU NAVFOR Somalia". European Union. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  9. ^The Daily Telegraph (London), 2016, General Officer Appointments, The Daily Telegraph (London), 8 April 2016, Edition 1; National Edition, p.28
  10. ^"Alamy". Alamy. US Marines Photo. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. ^"Robert MAGOWAN – Order of the Bath". The Gazette. H.M. The Queen. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  12. ^@ComdJFC_UK (19 November 2019). "Ahead of his start as Deputy Commander JFC, Major General Rob Magowan presented the 'Team of the Year' accolade at this year's Defence Intelligence Awards. Congratulations to all of the award winners. #OneJFC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^"Strategic Command welcome new Deputy Commander". Strategic Command, UK. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  14. ^Mackie, Colin (5 December 2019). "Admirals Current December 2019"(PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Retrieved 6 December 2019. (to be promoted): Lieutenant-General Robert A. Magowan: Deputy Commander, Joint Forces Command, January 2020
  15. ^"No. 62915". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 February 2020. p. 2442.
  16. ^"New Head Of Royal Marines Takes Up Role". Forces News. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  17. ^"Lieutenant General Rob Magowan CB CBE". Gov.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  18. ^"Senior Appointments 2025". Royal Air Force. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025. Air Vice-Marshal T T Jones CBE to be promoted Air Marshal and to be Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Force Development in September 2025, in succession to Lieutenant General Sir R A Magowan KCB CBE.
  19. ^"No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N2.
  20. ^"Lieutenant General Sir Rob Magowan appointed new Commander of Cyber & Specialist Operations Command". Ministry of Defence. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  21. ^"General Sir Rob Magowan KCB CBE ADC RM". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  22. ^"Royal Navy Biography"(PDF).