Commander of Standing Joint Forces HQ, Standing Joint Forces HQ
Commander of Standing Joint Forces HQ, Standing Joint Forces HQ
Major General Tom Bateman joined an Armoured Regiment (the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards) in 1995 and completed multiple tours of the Balkans in the Armoured, Formation Reconnaissance and dismounted roles. His career as a subaltern concluded with a tour to East Timor as a UN Military Observer (UNMO) and as an SO3 in the General Staff in the MOD.
Highlights at staff were his time as Chief of Staff of 7 Armoured Brigade (deployment to Iraq), Military Assistant (MA) to Deputy Chief Defence Staff (Operations) in the MOD and then as MA to Deputy Commander ISAF Afghanistan. Subsequently, after promotion to Colonel, he was Chief of Staff of the Special Operations Joint Task Force Headquarters in Syria and Iraq and returned to the MOD as the Assistant Head responsible for Op SHADER and Countering Violent Extremist Organisations. He has completed both the Advanced and Higher Command and Staff Courses. Finally, he was Assistant Chief of Staff J3 at the Permanent Joint Headquarters covering the UK’s global operations including the Carrier Strike Group 21, the NEO from Kabul and the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.
He commanded the Royal Dragoon Guards (an Irish / Yorkshire Regiment) 2013-2015 as they converted to Armoured Cavalry. From 2018-2020 he commanded 11 Infantry Brigade where he led on Counter-Poaching Operations, British Forces in Brunei and was the Joint Military Commander for the South-East of England through BREXIT and early months of the national COVID-19 response. Most recently he was General Officer Commanding the 1st (United Kingdom) Division of the British Army (2022-2024) where he revitalised the deployable nature of the HQ in preparation for its role as the first 2* Land Component Command for the NATO Allied Response Force. He took command of the Standing Joint Force HQ Group in April 2024.
Married to Polly, together they have a son called Harry. He is the Founder of The Global Charge (a movement to encourage everyone to invest in their personal conservation and sustainability legacy). Hobbies include clay target shooting, hockey, diving, fencing, and horse-riding if time permits.