John Ridge (British Army officer)
{{Short description|Senior British Army officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=John Ridge
|image= CJTF-HOA deputy commanding general visits United Kingdom (John Ridge cropped).jpg
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|caption= Brigadier Ridge in 2019
|nickname=
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|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= British Army
|serviceyears= 1995–2020
|rank= Brigadier
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|unit=
|commands=26 Engineer Regiment
8 Engineer Brigade
|battles=War in Afghanistan
|awards= Commander of the Order of the British Empire
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Brigadier John Henry Ridge CBE is a British civil servant and former senior British Army officer.
Military career
Ridge was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://rusi.org/event/evolving-role-military-during-non-discretionary-national-crises|title=The Evolving Role of the Military during non-discretionary National Crises|date=28 November 2018|publisher=Royal United Services Institute|accessdate=12 December 2019|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212130213/https://rusi.org/event/evolving-role-military-during-non-discretionary-national-crises|url-status=live}} He served as commanding officer of 26 Engineer Regiment in which role he was deployed to Afghanistan.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/26-engineer-regiment-receive-afghanistan-operational-medals|title=26 Engineer Regiment receive Afghanistan operational medals|date=8 October 2012|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=12 December 2019|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212134721/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/26-engineer-regiment-receive-afghanistan-operational-medals|url-status=live}} He went on to become commander of 8 Engineer Brigade in October 2015 and in that role led the British response to Hurricane Irma, an extremely powerful Cape Verde hurricane that caused widespread destruction across its path, in September 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/the-british-officer-leading-the-hurricane-irma-response-has|title=The British Officer Leading The Hurricane Irma Response Has Defended The Relief Effort|publisher=Buzzfeed|date=19 September 2017|accessdate=12 December 2019|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212131206/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/the-british-officer-leading-the-hurricane-irma-response-has|url-status=live}} He went on to become Chief, Joint Force Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood in September 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf|title=Ministry of Defence and Senior Tri-Service Appointments|accessdate=12 December 2019|archive-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033054/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Ministry%20of%20Defence%20Senior%20Posts.pdf|url-status=live}} He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=62150|supp=y|page=N6|date=30 December 2017}}
He was to be promoted to major general and appointed General Officer Commanding of Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command in April 2020.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Generals-Current.pdf|title=Current generals|accessdate=15 December 2019|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222114953/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Generals-Current.pdf|url-status=live}} However, he retired from the British Army on 25 April 2020,{{London Gazette |issue= 63131 |date= 6 October 2020 |page= 16832 |supp= y }} and joined the Civil Service.{{cite web |title=John Ridge CBE |url=https://www.dsei.co.uk/speakers/john-ridge-cbe |website=DSEI 2023 |access-date=5 October 2023}} {{as of|July 2022}}, he is Director of Defence Innovation at the Ministry of Defence.{{cite web |title=Military logistics are more difficult and dangerous than ever. Can tech help? |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/bc/article/military-logistics-are-more-difficult-and-dangerous-than-ever-can-tech-help-microsoft |website=Wired |access-date=5 October 2023 |date=5 July 2023}}