Gwyn Jenkins

Jenkins was educated at Malmesbury School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/17670447.students-inspired-by-visit-of-major-general-jenkins/|title=Students inspired by visit of Major General Jenkins|website=Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard|date=29 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-12}} He graduated from the Military College Shrivenham in 2004, where he completed a master's degree in Defence Studies.{{cite web |title=General Gwyn Jenkins CB OBE |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/gwyn-jenkins |website=HM Government |access-date=16 November 2023}}

Jenkins was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1990. He spent time as a junior officer in the Commando Logistics Regiment and on operations in Northern Ireland with 42 Commando. He became commanding officer of the Special Boat Service (SBS) in 2009.{{cite web |last1=Romaniello |first1=Federica |title=New Vice Chief of the Defence Staff appointed |url=https://www.forces.net/news/major-general-gwyn-jenkins-appointed-new-vice-chief-defence-staff |website=Forces Network |access-date=10 September 2023 |language=en |date=27 July 2022}}

In 2011 Jenkins received a written report stating that members of the Army’s Special Air Service (soldiers not under his command) operating in Afghanistan had conducted extrajudicial killings. He referred the matter to his superior officer, the Director Special Forces, recommending a thorough investigation: in response SAS tactics were subject to a rare review. The BBC has subsequently claimed that Jenkins was in fact legally obliged to pass his report to the Royal Military Police as it was an allegation that British forces had committed war crimes. However, he did not, but placed it in a classified dossier in April 2011.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67418001|title=Top general locked away evidence of SAS executions|last1 = O'Grady | first1 = Hannah| last2 = Gunter | first2 = Joel|date=16 November 2023|publisher=BBC (Panorama)}} He was promoted from acting to full colonel on 1 July 2011.{{London Gazette

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}} In October of that year Jenkins deployed to Afghanistan as the commander of all British Special Forces in the country. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2011 to 31 March 2012".{{London Gazette |issue= 60283 |date= 28 September 2012 |page= 18623 |supp= y }}

In 2012, he was appointed military assistant to the prime minister of the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.550squadronassociation.org.uk/images/Reunion-2014/SamLipfriend-DowningStreetLetter.pdf|title=Letter to Mr Don Kentish|publisher=550 Squadron Association|date=23 May 2014|accessdate=9 March 2019}} On 1 July 2015, he was promoted from acting to full brigadier.{{London Gazette |issue= 61339 |date= 1 September 2015 |page= 16198 |supp= y }} He went on to become Deputy National Security Adviser for Conflict, Stability and Defence in 2016,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/529110/co_staff_and_salary_senior_data_march2016.csv/preview|title=Cabinet Office staff and salary data: senior posts as at 31 March 2016 – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=2016-10-07}} commander 3 Commando Brigade in 2017,{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf|title=Senior Royal Navy Appointments (since 1865)}} Updated as required. and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy) in 2019. Jenkins was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2021 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=63218|supp=y|page=N2|date=31 December 2020}}

File:General Gwyn Jenkins inspecting.jpg

Jenkins was promoted to general on 30 August 2022, skipping the rank of lieutenant general,{{London Gazette |issue=63818 |date=20 September 2022 |page=17754 |supp= y}} and took up the post of Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-general-gwyn-jenkins-appointed-new-vice-chief-of-the-defence-staff|title=Major General Gwyn Jenkins appointed new Vice Chief of the Defence Staff|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=27 July 2022|accessdate=27 July 2022}} He is the first four-star Royal Marine general since 2016, after Sir Gordon Messenger, and the second since 1977. At the same time he was made an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Queen. Jenkins also became Commandant General Royal Marines on 25 November, succeeding Lieutenant General Robert Magowan. Jenkins became the first full general to serve as Commandant General since the 1970s.{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/services/royal-marines/major-general-gwyn-jenkins-named-new-commandant-general|title=Royal Marines appoint new Commandant General|date=25 November 2022|publisher=forces.net|access-date=27 November 2022}}{{London Gazette |issue=63889 |date=29 November 2022 |page=22839 |supp= y}}

On 23 April 2024 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Jenkins would become the United Kingdom's next National Security Advisor.{{Cite news |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/britain-names-gwyn-jenkins-national-120614353.html|title=Britain names Gwyn Jenkins as national security adviser |last1=Ravikumar |first1=Sachin |date=23 April 2024 |publisher=Reuters}} However, on 26 August 2024 The Guardian reported that the appointment had been cancelled by the new prime minister, Keir Starmer.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/26/starmer-cancels-appointmen-gwyn-jenkins-new-national-security-adviser |first=Kiran |last=Stacey|title=Starmer cancels appointment of Gwyn Jenkins as national security adviser |date=26 August 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

Jenkins was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2025 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette| issue = 64607| date = 30 December 2024| page = N2| supp = y}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Royal Marines generals

Category:20th-century Royal Marines personnel

Category:21st-century Royal Marines personnel

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Iraq War

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)