He was the son of Salvation Army officers[2] who attained the rank of brigadier by their retirement.

[4] He entered the Salvation Army's school for officer training in 1953 just before he turned 20 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1954.

Beginning in 1974 with the rank of major, he served in various roles as a finance director and divisional commander.

[2][5] In 1993, newly elected General Bramwell Tillsley appointed Maxwell to be the Chief of the Staff at international headquarters in London.

Within a year, Tillsley became extremely ill and suddenly resigned as general.