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Thomas Copinger-Symes

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Tom Copinger-Symes
Lt Gen Copinger-Symes in 2020
Born (1969-11-18) 18 November 1969 (age 54)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1992–present
RankLieutenant General
UnitRoyal Green Jackets
CommandsForce Troops Command
1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
5th Battalion, The Rifles
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire

Lieutenant General Tom Richardson Copinger-Symes, CBE (born 18 November 1969), is a senior British Army officer, who serves as the Deputy Commander, Strategic Command since May 2022. He previously served as General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command and Director of Military Digitisation, Strategic Command.[1]

Early life and education

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Of Anglo-Irish descent, Copinger-Symes is the youngest son of Colonel Wilfred Copinger-Symes and his wife Susan née Richardson.[2][3] Educated at Pangbourne College,[4] Copinger-Symes went up to the University of Warwick, as a cadetship officer.[5]

Military career

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Copinger-Symes was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1992.[6] Under ISAF, he served as Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion, The Rifles in Afghanistan from November 2011 to April 2012,[6] for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[7] He became commander of the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade in April 2014 and Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Army Headquarters in June 2016. Copinger-Symes was advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 Birthday Honours,[8] and became General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command that December.[9] He went on to be Director of Military Digitisation at Joint Forces Command in 2019.[10] In May 2022 he was promoted lieutenant general and was appointed Deputy Commander of Strategic Command.[11]

Honorary appointments

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As Assistant Colonel Commandant since 2019 (promoted Colonel Commandant in 2023),[12][13] Copinger-Symes was present at Windsor Castle in 2020 to offer the salute to the outgoing Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[14]

Copinger-Symes serves on the Advisory Board of "Nimbus Ninety", the community for disruptive business and technology leaders, since 2018.[15] A Freeman of the City of London, he is also a Liveryman of the Wax Chandlers' Company.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "A Virtual Cityforum Intelligent Defence Programme". Cityforum. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Wilfred Copinger-Symes | ParaData". www.paradata.org.uk.
  3. ^ "Burke's Irish Family Records".
  4. ^ "OPs in the News" (PDF). The Pangbournian. 2016. p. 23. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Welcome to the University of Warwick". warwick.ac.uk.
  6. ^ a b "Thomas Copinger-Symes". DESI. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Operational honours and awards". The Times. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  8. ^ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2017. p. B6.
  9. ^ "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Major-General Thomas Copinger-Symes". DSEI. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command". Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Strategic Command personnel participate in Coronation rehearsals through the night". Ministry of Defence. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles". British army. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  15. ^ Ninety, Nimbus. "Members' Advisory Board". www.nimbusninety.com.
  16. ^ "Modern Freedom". City of London. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer Commanding, Force Troops Command
2017–2019 		Succeeded by
New title Director, Military Digitisation
Joint Forces Command
2019–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Deputy Commander Strategic Command
2022–present 		Incumbent
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