General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith concluded 40 years service in the British Army in June 2022 as the longest serving Chief of the General Staff since the Second World War and the first Commander of Special Forces to become the professional Head of the British Army. Post 9/11 he commanded 22 Special Air Service Regiment and 16 Air Assault Brigade predominantly in Iraq and Afghanistan, including serving as Commander British Forces Afghanistan. He has also been the Army Director Resources and Policy and Head of Military Strategy and Operations in the Ministry of Defence. During the UK Integrated Defence and Security Review of 2020-21 he authored the Future Soldier strategy for the digital modernisation and upgrade of the British Army to compete in the Information Age. He is a graduate of Durham University and the Army’s Higher Command and Staff Course and Colonel Commandant of the Special Air Service Regiment.