Between 1995 and 1998 he commanded the 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, which included leading them on 6 months of active operations against terrorists in West Belfast in the period following the breakdown of the first ceasefire and before the second ceasefire.  Prior to command he had been in charge of the Operations and Deployment branch at Headquarters Northern Ireland, for which he was made an OBE.

He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals. He divides his spare time between the Tower and his house in Kent.  He is married to Lesley, who is a solicitor. He has two adult children from his first marriage.