Kevin O'Donoghue
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Kevin O'Donoghue KCB, CBE (born 9 December 1947) is a retired British Army
officer and former Chief of Defence Materiel
. He retired from the service in December 2010, being succeeded as Chief of Defence Materiel by Bernard Gray
.
in 1968 on a Territorial Army commission as a Second Lieutenant (on probation) on 10 October 1968. He was attending University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and had previously been an Officer Cadet. In 1971, after approximately two years as a troop commander in 75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers), he converted to a Regular Commission and spent the next 5 years in the British Army of the Rhine
.
In 1976, he moved to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
as an instructor. He then attended the Canadian Forces' Command and Staff Course in Toronto
before being posted to the Ministry of Defence
as Military Assistant
to the Chief of the General Staff
.
After a return to Germany to support 7th Armoured Brigade
, he was a member of the Directing Staff for the Army Staff Course. Command of 25 Engineer Regiment included a deployment to the Falkland Islands
. He then attended the Higher Command and Staff Course
in 1990 and was promoted to Brigadier
and assumed the appointment of Commander Corps Royal Engineers 1 (British) Corps (which became Chief Engineer Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps) and Commander Hameln Garrison.
In 1993 he attended the NATO Defence College in Rome
, before moving to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
to become the Director of Staff Operations. He was promoted to Major General
in April 1996 on appointment as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Quartermaster General
, following which he moved to the Ministry of Defence to become the Assistant Chief of the General Staff
.
He was promoted to Lieutenant General
and became the United Kingdom’s Military Representative to NATO, the EU and WEU. He then served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Health), responsible for the Defence Medical Services, from 2002 to 2004.
He became Chief of Defence Logistics
on 1 January 2005. When the Defence Logistics Organisation
merged with the Defence Procurement Agency
on 2 April 2007, he became the first Chief of Defence Materiel
. He retired from this post in December 2010.
, reading military history
and gardening
.
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General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Kevin O'Donoghue KCB, CBE (born 9 December 1947) is a retired British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer and former Chief of Defence Materiel
Chief of Defence Materiel
The Chief of Defence Materiel is a senior post in the British armed forces created in April 2007. It merges the roles of Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief of Defence Logistics into a single post responsible for leading Defence Equipment and Support....
. He retired from the service in December 2010, being succeeded as Chief of Defence Materiel by Bernard Gray
Bernard Gray
Bernard Peter Gray is a British businessman and journalist. Graduated from Oxford University. He was a special adviser to the Labour Party, based in the Ministry of Defence. In December 2010 he was appointed to the role of Chief of Defence Materiel in the Ministry of Defence, leading the Defence...
.
Career
He joined the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in 1968 on a Territorial Army commission as a Second Lieutenant (on probation) on 10 October 1968. He was attending University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and had previously been an Officer Cadet. In 1971, after approximately two years as a troop commander in 75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers), he converted to a Regular Commission and spent the next 5 years in the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
.
In 1976, he moved to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
as an instructor. He then attended the Canadian Forces' Command and Staff Course in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
before being posted to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
as Military Assistant
Military Assistant
A Military Assistant, in the British Armed Forces and many of those derived from them, is an officer appointed to the personal office of a general officer. They are similar to aides-de-camp but generally have a more overtly administrative role....
to the Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
Chief of the General Staff has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. The CGS is a member of both the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Army Board...
.
After a return to Germany to support 7th Armoured Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade
The 7th Armoured Brigade or 7th Armored Brigade may refer to any of a number of military units:*7th Armoured Brigade *7th Armoured Brigade *7th Armoured Brigade...
, he was a member of the Directing Staff for the Army Staff Course. Command of 25 Engineer Regiment included a deployment to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. He then attended the Higher Command and Staff Course
Higher Command and Staff Course
The Higher Command and Staff Course is a staff course for senior military officers of the United Kingdom armed forces and allies. It is taught at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom....
in 1990 and was promoted to Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and assumed the appointment of Commander Corps Royal Engineers 1 (British) Corps (which became Chief Engineer Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps) and Commander Hameln Garrison.
In 1993 he attended the NATO Defence College in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, before moving to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
to become the Director of Staff Operations. He was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in April 1996 on appointment as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
, following which he moved to the Ministry of Defence to become the Assistant Chief of the General Staff
Assistant Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)
-Responsibilities:The Assistant Chief of the General Staff supports the Chief of the General Staff in his responsibilities, sets the conditions for the British Army to contribute to success on operations, ensures coherence across the 'Defence Lines of Development' and develops the Army of the...
.
He was promoted to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
and became the United Kingdom’s Military Representative to NATO, the EU and WEU. He then served as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Health), responsible for the Defence Medical Services, from 2002 to 2004.
He became Chief of Defence Logistics
Chief of Defence Logistics
The Chief of Defence Logistics was a senior post in the British armed forces. As of 1 April 2007 the Defence Logistics Organisation was merged with the Defence Procurement Agency to form a new organisation called Defence Equipment and Support...
on 1 January 2005. When the Defence Logistics Organisation
Defence Logistics Organisation
The Defence Logistics Organisation was a key element of the UK Ministry of Defence, responsible for supporting the armed forces throughout the various stages of an operation or exercise; from training, deployment, in-theatre training and conduct of operations, through to recovery and recuperation...
merged with the Defence Procurement Agency
Defence Procurement Agency
The Defence Procurement Agency , was an Executive Agency of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence responsible for the acquisition of materiel, equipment and services, for the British armed forces....
on 2 April 2007, he became the first Chief of Defence Materiel
Chief of Defence Materiel
The Chief of Defence Materiel is a senior post in the British armed forces created in April 2007. It merges the roles of Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief of Defence Logistics into a single post responsible for leading Defence Equipment and Support....
. He retired from this post in December 2010.
Personal life
O'Donoghue has a wife named Jean and together they have three daughters. His hobbies include dog walkingDog walking
Dog walking is both a pastime and a profession involving the act of a person walking with a dog, typically from the dog's residence and then returning. This constitutes part of the daily exercise regime needed to keep a dog healthy...
, reading military history
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
and gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
.
External links
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