Colonel Tom Parsons MBE

Assistant Head, Personnel Strategy British Army

Col Tom Parsons commissioned into the Scots Guards in 2001. He has served in ceremonial, light, mechanised and armoured infantry roles in training and on operations. He commanded 1st Infantry Training Battalion from 2018 to 2021, where he led the introduction of the first women into the Infantry and the development of a new Combat Infantry Course, while also managing 1,500 recruits and instructors through the challenges of COVID. On the staff, he has served in intelligence collection roles in Army Headquarters and with 3 Commando Brigade in Afghanistan; developed warfighting initiatives with NATO in Headquarters 3 (UK) Division and served with the US Marine Corps in Iraq; supported the institutional foundations of the Army as Military Assistant to Commander Home Command and Standing Joint Command (UK); and shaped individual training as Chief of Staff of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Group and Assistant Head Transformation in Army Individual Training Command. He is currently Assistant Head Personnel Strategy, leading work to help ensure the Army makes the most of its people, now and into the future. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Biology, an MSc in Battlespace Technology, and an MA in Defence Studies, and is a graduate of ACSC. He was awarded an MBE in 2017. He is married with a young son. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and taking part in country and mountain sports. He is also Chair of Infantry Nordic skiing.