Thomas Copinger-Symes


Thomas Richardson Copinger-Symes CBE is a British Army officer, who served as General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command, until 2019, and currently serves as Director of Military Digitisation, UK Joint Forces Command.

Background and education

Of Anglo-Irish descent, Copinger-Symes was educated at Pangbourne College, before going up to the University of Warwick as a cadetship officer.

Military career

Copinger-Symes was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1992. He served as Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion, The Rifles in Afghanistan between November 2011 and April 2012. He became Commander of 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade in April 2014, Assistant Chief of Staff at Army Headquarters in June 2016 and General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command in December 2017. He went on to be Director of Military Digitisation at Joint Forces Command in 2019.
Copinger-Symes, appointed OBE in 2012, was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 Birthday Honours.