Brigadier Jamie Balfour

Head of Digital Strategy, Defence Digital, NAD Group UK Ministry of Defence

Brigadier Jamie Balfour commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals after his attendance at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Following his sterling efforts on the Troop Commanders’ Course, Brigadier Balfour’s formative troop command years were spent experiencing many of the military and adventurous training areas of Europe; either endeavouring to establish a communications network, train Phase One recruits or complete the necessary courses or competitions expected of a young officer. His final troop command role was spent in Northern Ireland on Op BANNER during the millennium.

Brigadier Balfour’s military career has allowed him to continue his much-needed educational development and he attained a BSc (Hons) and then, following his adjutant’s appointment and promotion to Major, he also gained an MSc. Having spent two years as a desk officer in the Capability area he deployed to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK with his independent signal squadron.

Afterward, his role as Chief of Staff in the Corps’ largest brigade headquarters during the greatest window of change with Army 2020 was enlightening. Directly afterward, he was then selected to work within the Permanent Joint Headquarters during a high-volume period of operational activities. Following further staff training, Brigadier Balfour spent what felt like another operational deployment employed as the Military Assistant to the Army’s senior procurement officer (3* General) before commanding the Army’s Light Forces Signal Regiment, 2nd Signal Regiment, in York.

His latest command appointment followed a tour as Commander Field Army’s lead CIS officer in Land Ops Command when Brigadier Balfour was assigned to successfully create and grow Field Army’s CEMA Effects Group and command our cyber and EW capabilities. Before selection to be Head Digital Strategy, Brigadier Balfour spent a year in PJHQ J6.

Having enjoyed an immensely rewarding career, it is all eclipsed by his other focus in life – family. Brigadier Balfour is married to Helen, and she is raising their two daughters. To relax he enjoys running with the dog (and sometimes the children), drinking fine wine and sampling single malts, tinkering on a poorly tuned piano and editing non-fiction (not always mutually exclusive activities).