Buster Howes

Buster Howes
Buster Howes
Born	(1960-03-22) 22 March 1960 Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Marines
Years of service	1982 –
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade 42 Commando
Battles/wars	Operation Banner Gulf War Bosnian War Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Major General Francis Hedley Roberton "Buster" Howes CB, OBE (born 22 March 1960) is a Royal Marines officer who was Commandant General Royal Marines from February 2010 to December 2011.

Early life

Howes was educated at Christ's Hospital, the University of York and the University of London.^[1]

Military career

Howes was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1982.^[1] He became a troop commander in 42 Commando and had his first posting to Northern Ireland. After training as a Mountain Leader, he transferred to 45 Commando.^[1] He served in the Gulf War while on secondment to the USMC. He served as a planner in the Rapid Reaction Force Operations Staff of UNPROFOR during the Bosnian War in 1995.^[1] He became Commanding Officer of 42 Commando (during the Iraq War) in 2003, Chief Joint Coordination and Effects in Headquarters ISAF in Afghanistan in 2007^[2] and Director of Naval Staff later that year.^[3] He went on to be Commander of 3 Commando Brigade in April 2008, Head of Overseas Operations in the Ministry of Defence in 2009 and Commandant General Royal Marines in February 2010.^[1] He became Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. in 2011.^[4]

Howes was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2013 Birthday Honours.^[5]

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References