General Sir Roger Wheeler GCB CBE
General Sir Roger Wheeler was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the Army, for three years from 1997 – 2000, prior to which as Commander in Chief Land Forces he was Joint Commander of the United Kingdom’s forces deployed on NATO operation in Bosnia. He assumed that appointment following three years as Director of Military Operations in Northern Ireland, prior to which he held a variety of command and key executive staff appointment in MOD, Germany, the Falkland Islands and Cyprus. As Chief of the General Staff he chaired the Executive Committee of the Army Board, and was the Government’s principal adviser on Army aspects of the Strategic Defence Review and the deployment of forces to Kosovo and East Timor.
General Wheeler became a non-executive Director with Thales plc in 2001, and in January 2003 he was appointed Chairman of Thales Air Defence. He has been involved as an Honorary Fellow of his College, Hertford, at Oxford University in fund raising activities. He is a Vice-President of Sandes Homes, a Services welfare organisation, President of Combat Stress, The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, President of the Forces Pension Society and Chairman of the Tank Museum, Bovington. He also retains Honorary Colonelcy of several military units. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Patron of the Police Foundation and an Honorary Liveryman of the Painter-Stainers Company.
General Wheeler became Constable of HM Tower of London on 1 August 2001 and is a Trustee of the Historic Royal Palaces.
General Wheeler became a Trustee of the Royal Armouries in August 2001.