Sir John McColl | |
|---|---|
.jpg) McColl in 2012 | |
| Lieutenant Governor of Jersey | |
| In office 26 September 2011 – 30 November 2016 | |
| Premier | Ian Gorst |
| Preceded by | Sir Andrew Ridgway |
| Succeeded by | Sir Stephen Dalton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Chalmers McColl (1952-04-17)17 April 1952 (age 73) London, England |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1973–2011 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (2007–2011) Regional Forces (2004–2007) Joint Services Command and Staff College (2003–2004) 3rd Mechanised Division (2000–2003) International Security Assistance Force (2001–2002) 1st Mechanised Brigade (1997–1999) |
| Battles/wars | The Troubles Sierra Leone Civil War Kosovo War Bosnian War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Knight of the Order of St John Mentioned in Despatches Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States) |
GeneralSir John Chalmers McColl,KCB, CBE, DSO, KStJ (born 17 April 1952) is a retired seniorBritish Army officer and a pastLieutenant Governor of Jersey. McColl previously served asDeputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2007 to 2011.
Educated atCulford School inSuffolk, England,[1] McColl was commissioned as asecond lieutenant in theRoyal Anglian Regiment in 1973[2] and promoted tolieutenant on 8 September 1974.[3] He was promoted to captain on 8 March 1979 and to major on 30 September 1984.[4][5] In 1989, he became a squadron commander in the 3rdRoyal Tank Regiment, was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1990, and to acting colonel shortly after.[6] He was promoted to colonel on 30 June 1995 and to brigadier on 31 December 1996 (seniority 30 June).[7][8] He held a variety of commands and military posts before commanding1st Mechanised Brigade in 1997. In 1999, he became Assistant Chief of Staff atLand Command and in 2000, he was given command of3rd (UK) Mechanised Division. In 2001, he was appointed the first leader of theInternational Security Assistance Force inAfghanistan.[9]
In 2003, he becameCommandant of theJoint Services Command and Staff College. He was deployed asSenior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multinational Force, Iraq in March 2004 and at the end of that year he becameCommander of Regional Forces atLand Command.[10] He becameDeputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in the rank ofgeneral in October 2007,[11] and was appointedKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the2008 New Year Honours.[12]
McColl was the preferred choice of Afghanistan for the role of UN Special Envoy afterPaddy Ashdown withdrew.[13] However, on 7 March 2008, Norwegian diplomatKai Eide was appointed as the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan.[14] McColl retired as DSACEUR in March 2011.[15]
On 26 October 2010 it was announced that he would be appointed to the role ofLieutenant Governor of Jersey.[16] He took office on 26 September 2011.[17] On 5 June 2012, Sir John, and his wife Lady McColl, represented Jersey at theQueen's Diamond Jubilee Dedication Service atSt Paul's Cathedral.[18] After his fixed term of office, his tenure ended on 30 November 2016 and he was succeeded by Air Chief Marshal SirStephen Dalton.[19]
He was Honorary Colonel Wiltshire Army Cadet Force until late 2024.[20]
 | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) | 29 December 2007[12] |
_Ribbon.png) | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) | 13 May 1997[21] |
 | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | 29 October 2002[22] |
_ribbon_-vector.svg) | Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) | 5 August 2016[23] |
 | Legion of Merit (Officer) | 22 May 2007[24] |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New post | Commander of theInternational Security Assistance Force 2001–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | General Officer Commanding the3rd Mechanised Division 2000–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commandant of theJoint Services Command and Staff College 2003–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multinational Force, Iraq March–October 2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander Regional Forces 2004–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe 2007–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 2011–2016 | Succeeded by |