Lieutenant General Jez Bennett

Lieutenant General Jez Bennett was educated at RGS High Wycombe before studying French at Liverpool and Bordeaux Universities, combining academic study with competitive rugby, prior to commissioning from Sandhurst into the Royal Artillery. Early service with 3RHA included a tour of Bosnia as a Forward Observation Officer, followed by instructional roles at Sandhurst and staff appointments after completing Staff College and two master's degrees. Regimental duty with 1RHA encompassed UN service in Cyprus and an infantry role on Operation TELIC 10 in Iraq. He later held key posts in Army HQ and the MOD, commanded 1RHA on operations in Afghanistan—earning an OBE—and became the first commander of 1st Artillery Brigade, appointed CBE. Subsequently he held senior capability and NATO appointments, culminating in his current role: In October 2024 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and became the Deputy Commander of NATO's Allied Land Command in Izmir, Türkiye.