Episode 7: Experiences of Leadership with Major General Christopher Elliott CB, MBE
In Episode 7 Matthew talks with Christopher Elliott, a retired Major General from the British Army. Christopher reflects on his experiences of leadership in the army and in civilian life.
About Christopher:
Elliott was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1967, became a Lieutenant in 1969, Captain in 1973 and Major in 1979. In 1969 he was created a Member of the Order of British Empire for Gallantry, following an incident in which he was instrumental in rescuing an injured man whilst climbing on Mont Blanc. Elliott commanded 48 Field Squadron Royal Engineers from 1980. He was made a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1984 and a Colonel in 1989. He commanded 21 Engineer Regiment (1986–88) and the 6th Armoured Brigade (1990–91) as part of the British Army of the Rhine. His military staff appointments included Assistant Chief of Staff 1st British Corps (1988–90), Director of Studies at the Staff College, Camberley (1991–92), Director of the UK Higher Command and Staff Course, and the Director of Military Operations in the Ministry of Defense (1993–95).
Elliott studied as a Defence Fellow at the University of Southampton in 1986, leading to the award of Master of Philosophy from Cranfield University. His work, in collaboration with Professor Geoffrey Mays and Dr. Peter Smith, investigated the impact of terrorist explosive attacks on domestic and commercial buildings and suggested structural arrangements to protect against their worst effects. As a result of this work, the Institution of Civil Engineers formed a Working Party—including Elliott— which led to changes to UK Building Regulations to improve building safety in the event of a blast. The same year Elliott was promoted to the rank of acting Major General and was appointed Military Advisor to Carl Bildt, Chairman of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, playing a part in the Dayton Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On his substantive promotion to Major General in January 1996, Elliott was made Director General and Chief Executive of the newly formed UK Army Training and Recruiting Agency, with a remit to retain more recruits, including changing the historic culture of training to one more effective given the changes in gender, race, educational and social backgrounds of those enlisting.
After three years he was created a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. He then served as Chief of Staff to the Quartermaster General from 1999 to 2000, and ended his military career as the UK Director General of Doctrine and Development, retiring from active service in 2002.
For his last six years of service, he was a Commissioner of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
For Christopher's full bio, please see his Wikipedia page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Leslie_Elliott
