Ralph Wooddisse
Sir Ralph Wooddisse | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wooddisse in 2019 | |
| Born | 8 January 1970 Dhekelia, Cyprus |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1989–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | Field Army 1st (United Kingdom) Division 38th (Irish) Brigade 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment |
| Battles / wars | The Troubles Bosnian War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Lieutenant General Sir Ralph William Wooddisse, KCB, CBE, MC (born 8 January 1970) is a British Army officer who served as Commander Field Army from April 2021 until February 2024. He now serves as Commander, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
Early life and education
[edit]Wooddisse was born on 8 January 1970 in Dhekelia, Cyprus.[1] He was educated at Denstone College, a private school in Staffordshire, England. He studied at University College London and underwent officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[2]
Military career
[edit]
Wooddisse was commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment on 3 September 1989.[3] He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) on 20 October 1999 in recognition of gallant and distinguished services during operations in Kosovo between January and June that year.[4] He later served as a company commander in Iraq during the Iraq War, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 Birthday Honours,[5] and became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment in March 2009.[2]
Wooddisse went on to be Assistant Head, Military Strategic Plans at the Ministry of Defence in May 2012, commander of 38th (Irish) Brigade in November 2013,[6] and General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division in May 2017.[7] Wooddisse was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours,[8] and appointed Assistant Chief of the General Staff in November 2018.[9]
Wooddisse was promoted to lieutenant general and became Commander Field Army on 19 April 2021.[10] He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2022 Birthday Honours.[11] He took up the NATO post of Commander, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in March 2024.[12]
He was Colonel of the Royal Anglian Regiment until 2023,[13] and a Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps until September 2024.[14] He was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Queen's Division on 1 November 2024.[15]
Personal life
[edit]In 2000, Wooddisse married Louise. Together they have three daughters.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Wooddisse, Maj. Gen. Ralph William, (born 8 Jan. 1970), Assistant Chief of the General Staff, since 2018". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Colonel RW Wooddisse MBE, MC" (PDF). International Symposium on Military Operational Research. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "No. 51927". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 November 1989. p. 12817.
- ^ "No. 55651". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 October 1999. p. 11556.
- ^ "No. 58358". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2007. pp. 5–6.
- ^ "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "No. 61930". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 May 2017. p. 9902.
- ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B6.
- ^ "Generals November 2018" (PDF). Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "No. 63325". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 April 2021. p. 7239.
- ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 2022. p. B2.
- ^ "Commander NATO ARRC". NATO. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "No. 64276". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 2024. p. 26495.
- ^ "No. 64546". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 October 2024. p. 20855.
- ^ "No. 64558". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 November 2024. p. 22334.
- 1970 births
- 20th-century British Army personnel
- Alumni of University College London
- British Army lieutenant generals
- British Army personnel of the Iraq War
- British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Living people
- NATO personnel in the Bosnian War
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- People educated at Denstone College
- Royal Anglian Regiment officers