"[20] Parker was awarded the American Legion of Merit "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Afghanistan" in 2007.

[23] As Commander, Regional Forces, Parker was responsible for overseeing the £3 billion overhaul of the Army's Royal Engineers' Royal School of Military Engineering in a public-private partnership in September 2008[24] as well as accepting the Freedom of the City of Bath on behalf of the Rifles in October 2008,[25] and campaigning for the creation of an Armed Forces Day for the UK, a proposal that was implemented in July 2009.

[26] In September 2009, it was announced that Parker would succeed Royal Marine Lieutenant General Sir Jim Dutton as deputy commander of ISAF in Afghanistan.

[27] Parker was serving in Afghanistan on Christmas Day 2009 and undertook a tour of British bases in the area to visit troops.

[28] On 23 June 2010, Parker assumed temporary command of all 140,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, following the departure of American General Stanley McChrystal.

[3][29] British Prime Minister David Cameron told U.S. President Barack Obama that Parker had assured him that the operation would "not miss a beat" during the transition period.

[35] Parker's post as Commander Land Forces was assumed by Lieutenant General Adrian Bradshaw in January 2013.

[38] When the Royal Green Jackets were merged with others in 2007 to form The Rifles, he became Colonel Commandant of the new regiment until replaced in 2013 by Lt-General Nick Carter.

[44] In 1979 he married Rebecca Clare Wellings:[2] they have two sons, one of whom, Harry, was seriously injured in July 2009 while serving as a captain with 4th Battalion The Rifles in Afghanistan.