Charles Stickland


Charles Richard Stickland, is a senior Royal Marines officer who served as Commandant General Royal Marines from January 2018 until June 2019.

Early life and education

Stickland was born on 16 May 1968 in Pembury, Kent, England. He was educated at Sevenoaks School, an independent school in Kent. He studied at City University, London, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in systems and management science and a Master of Arts degree in defence studies.

Military career

Stickland was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1987. Stickland first saw service in Northern Ireland and went on to complete amphibious operations in the Mediterranean and Far East on anti-smuggling operations. In 1999 Stickland was selected for Staff College and spent time in the Ministry of Defence in procurement; from there Stickland became the Ministry of Defence lead for West and Southern Africa, during his time as lead he was co-ordinating military activity across the region.
Stickland became Senior UK Liaison Officer with the US XVIII Airborne Corps in Baghdad in 2005, Chief of Staff of the UK Task Force in Afghanistan in 2006 for which he was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service. Stickland returned for another tour in Afghanistan as commander 42 Commando in 2008. On promotion to colonel in 2010 he became team leader of the Fleet Operational Policy team on the 'Gulf Preparedness Initiative' as well as oversight of counterpiracy operations and the Maritime Trade Organisation node in Dubai. Stickland then went on to be Chief of Staff of the Joint Force Headquarters in 2012 and on completion of the Higher Command and Staff Course he became commander of 3 Commando Brigade in 2014. After that he became Chief Joint Force Operations in 2016 a role that entailed a number of non-Combatant Evacuation and Humanitarian Assistance operations.
Promoted to major general in October 2017, he was appointed commander of Operation Atalanta on 7 November. He became Commandant General Royal Marines in January 2018. Stickland handed over command of Commandant General Royal Marines to Major General Matthew Holmes in June 2019. Stickland was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2019 Birthday Honours. Since June 2019, he has served as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff and is based at the Ministry of Defence.

Personal life

Stickland is married to his wife Mishy and has three sons. His interests include rugby, climbing and skiing.