He studied zoology at the University of Bristol,[4] graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

[6] In 1995, he attended the Royal Navy Staff Course and completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in defence studies.

[6] In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

With the start of the Iraq War, he was posted to the multinational headquarters as Deputy Chief of Operations.

He was deployed to Afghanistan where he served as Commander Battle Group Centre South during Op HERRICK 9.