David Leakey

Lieutenant General
David Leakey
CMG, CBE
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
Assumed office
1 February 2011
Monarch Elizabeth II
Preceded by Sir Freddie Viggers
Personal details
Born Arundell David Leakey
(1952-05-18) 18 May 1952
United Kingdom
Nationality British
Relations Nigel Leakey (uncle)
Joshua Leakey (distant cousin)
Father Rea Leakey
Alma mater Sherborne School
University of Cambridge
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1971–2010
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands European Union Military Staff
20th Armoured Brigade
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
Battles/wars Operation Banner
EUFOR Althea (Bosnia and Hercegovina)
Awards Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George[1]
Commander of the Order of the British Empire[2]
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service

Lieutenant General Arundell David Leakey, CMG, CBE (born 18 May 1952)[3] is a former British military commander. He was Director General of the European Union Military Staff in the Council of the European Union, Brussels. In 2010 he was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.[4]

Early life and family

Leakey is the son of Major General Rea Leakey and nephew of Victoria Cross recipient Nigel Leakey. Leakey was educated at Sherborne School.[5] He is also related to the Victoria Cross recipient Joshua Leakey.[6]

Military career

After attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Leakey was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 27 February 1971.[7] From 4 September 1971[8] to 1 July 1974 he was a university cadet[9] while he read law at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge.[5][10] His commission was confirmed on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1971.[11] He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1973,[11] and to captain on 1 August 1977.[12] He served in the UK, Northern Ireland, Germany, Bosnia and in Canada in armoured vehicles and in tanks (Chieftain and Challenger).[5]

Having attended the Staff College, Camberley, he was promoted to major on 30 September 1984.[13] He was appointed Chief of Staff at 7th Armoured Brigade (Germany), Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff and then Commanding Officer of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.[5]

He was promoted to colonel on 31 December 1993 with seniority from 30 June 1993.[14] He was then posted to the Ministry of Defence as a Colonel Military Operations. In that role, he was responsible for Operational planning and policy affecting Eastern and Western Europe. In early 1995, he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course. In late 1995, he was the UK's Military Representative at the peace negotiations to end the Bosnian War held in the United States. The successful negotiations resulted in the signing of the Dayton Agreement and an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long war.[5]

He was promoted to brigadier on 31 December 1995 with seniority from 30 June 1995.[15] He was appointed Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade in Germany in 1996.[5] With his brigade, he was posted to the former Yugoslavia from 21 December 1996 to 20 June 1997.[16] He returned to the Ministry of Defence as Director of Military Operations from July 1997 to December 1999.[17]

In 2000, he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies. He was Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Ireland[5] from February to December 2001.[17] He was promoted to major general on 15 December 2001.[18] From December 2001 to October 2004, he was Director General of Army Training and Recruiting.[17] On 6 October 2004, he was appointed Commander of European Union Force Althea,[19] the European Union peacekeeping force, which replaced the NATO-led SFOR in Bosnia and Hercegovina.[5] He was promoted to lieutenant general on 28 February 2007.[20] From 1 March 2007[21] until 2010, he was Director General of the European Union Military Staff in Brussels.[5]

He retired from the military on 22 September 2010.[22]

Later life

Leakey was appointed as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Lords from 21 December 2010.[23]

Personal life

Leakey was previously chairman of the National Children's Orchestra before he, along with the rest of the board of governors, was forced to resign in June 2014 following a concerted campaign against them led by the orchestra's founder. He is an amateur piano player and singer. He is married with two sons. He enjoys playing squash, tennis, golf, most field sports, chain sawing and classical music.[5]

Honours and awards

He was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Tank Regiment from 21 August 2006[24] to 30 July 2010[25] and previously Deputy Colonel Commandant since 16 July 1999.[26] He is Honorary Colonel of the Dorset Yeomanry, and Colonel of Cadet Force Music.

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 24 March 2006, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia during the period 1st April to 30th September 2005".[27]
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) 5 December 1997, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in former Yugoslavia during the period 21st December 1996 to 20th June 1997".[16]
United Nations Medal for UNFICYP United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
NATO Former Republic of Yugoslavia Medal With clasp ' Former Yugoslavia '
General Service Medal With oak leaves for Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service awarded on 19 April 2002, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland during period 1st April 2001 to 30th September 2001".[28]
Western European Union Mission Service Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal 2002
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57936. p. 4194. Friday 24 March 2006. Retrieved Monday 25 April 2011.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54969. p. 13691. 4 December 1997. Retrieved Monday 25 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2014. Lt Gen David Leakey, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, 59
  4. ↑ "New appointment as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod". royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "LIEUTENANT GENERAL A D LEAKEY CMG CBE" (PDF). European Parliament. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Farmer, Ben (26 February 2015). "Heroism runs in the family for VC Para". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45331. p. 2938. 30 March 1971. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45493. p. 10969. 11 October 1971. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46403. p. 11370. 18 November 1974. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  10. ↑ "Fitzwilliam College Alumni News". Fitzwilliam College. 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  11. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46495. p. 2223. 18 February 1975. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47289. p. 9974. 1 August 1977. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49897. p. 13947. 15 October 1984. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  14. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 53537. p. 20680. 31 December 1993. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54265. p. 61. 29 December 1995. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  16. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 54969. p. 13691. 4 December 1997. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  17. 1 2 3 Colin Mackie. "Army Commands 1900–2011 – Senior Army Appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56419. p. 14897. 18 December 2001. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57453. p. 13817. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  20. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58264. p. 3233. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  21. ↑ "Press Briefing for Handover Ceremony" (pdf). COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59559. p. 18725. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  23. ↑ New Black Rod starts Parliament, 2 February 2011
  24. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58113. p. 13441. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  25. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59531. p. 16755. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  26. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 55627. p. 10613. 5 October 1999. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  27. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57936. p. 4194. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  28. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56541. p. 4810. 19 April 2002. Retrieved 2012-07-26.

External links

Government offices
Preceded by
Sir Freddie Viggers		 Black Rod
2011–present 		Incumbent
Officers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
House of Commons House of Lords
Speaker John Bercow Lord Speaker The Lord Fowler
Leader of the House of Commons David Lidington Leader of the House of Lords The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
Serjeant at Arms Kamal El-Hajji Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod Lt-Gen. David Leakey
Clerk of the House David Natzler Clerk of the Parliaments David Beamish
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