Matthew Holmes (Royal Marines officer)


Matthew John Holmes, is a senior Royal Marines officer. As of June 2019, he is Commandant General Royal Marines.

Education

He was educated at Desborough College, the University of Exeter and King's College London.

Military career

Holmes was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1988. He became commanding officer of 42 Commando in April 2006, in which capacity he was deployed to Afghanistan and was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for distinguished service there in July 2007. He went on to become Head of Future and Maritime in March 2013, Chief of Staff of the operational headquarters at Permanent Joint Headquarters in 2016, and Director of the Resolute Support Mission Ministerial Advisory Group in 2018. Holmes was appointed Commandant General Royal Marines, taking over from Major General Charlie Stickland.
Holmes was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 Birthday Honours.