General Sir Mike Jackson

General Sir Mike Jackson has had a distinguished military career spanning almost 45 years, from an officer cadet to Chief of the General Staff (CGS), the highest level of the British Army. In this role, he led the British Army during the war in Iraq from 2003 to 2006. He has commanded operations at nearly every level, including significant postings in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Kosovo. His extensive service has taken him to numerous parts of the world, from the Arctic to the jungle.

Jackson began his career in the Intelligence Corps in 1963, specializing in Russian Studies. He later transferred to the Parachute Regiment in the early 1970s, serving in Scotland and Northern Ireland. He commanded the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment from 1984 to 1986, during which the Battalion was part of the NATO Allied Command Europe Mobile Force. He returned to Northern Ireland in late 1989 to command the 39 Infantry Brigade for two and a half years. From 1992 through 1993, he served as the Director-General Personnel Services (Army) for the Ministry of Defence.

Following the Dayton talks, Jackson spent the first half of 1996 in Bosnia commanding IFOR’s Multinational Division (South-West). In 1997, he assumed the appointment of Commander of the ACE Rapid Reaction Corps. With this Corps, he deployed as Commander of the Kosovo Force to Macedonia in March 1999 and the Kosovo Force in Pristina from June to October 1999. He assumed the appointment of Commander in Chief Land Command in 2000. His leadership roles did not end there; he also held positions such as Commander Kosovo Force and Commander ACE Rapid Reaction Corps, showcasing his strategic insight and capability in various challenging environments.

His book, "Soldier: The Autobiography," encapsulates his career in the British Army, marked by loyalty, courage, and commitment. Since retiring from the armed forces in 2006, Jackson has taken on several consultative and advisory roles, including Senior Advisor at PA Consulting Group, alongside other positions with organizations such as Numis Securities, Rolls Royce, The International Red Cross, and The Risk Advisory Group. He also makes regular media appearances as a commentator on international relations and military affairs.

Educated at Stamford School, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Birmingham University, and the Staff College, Jackson's military education was furthered by a course at the National Defence College at Latimer in 1981, and significant roles at the Staff College, Camberley, and the Joint Service Defence College, Greenwich. His personal life is rooted in his marriage to Sarah, with whom he has two sons, a daughter, and four grandchildren, underlining a life as dedicated to family as it has been to service.