Defence
About Defence
Major General G R Coward OBE - Commander Joint Helicopter Command
Gary Coward was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1974, serving initially with 2 Field Regiment in Germany and Northern Ireland. After pilot training in 1978, he returned to Germany, serving as a reconnaissance and then anti-tank flight commander with 3 Regiment AAC. After transferring to the AAC in 1983, he spent 2 years in the Far East as a squadron 2IC in Hong Kong and flight commander in Brunei. He then became Adjutant of 7 Regiment AAC, before attending Division 2 of the Army Staff Course.
On graduation from Camberley, he was posted to the British Army Staff in Washington as SO2 Weapons and Fighting Vehicles. Returning to regimental duty in 1991, he commanded 656 Squadron, then part of the UK Mobile Force. Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel followed in 1993 and he was appointed SO1 G3 O&D/Plans in HQ DAAvn. During 1994 95 he spent 8 months in Bosnia as the UN Military Spokesman in Sarajevo. On return, he assumed command of 1 Regiment AAC in Germany and then returned to Bosnia as part of IFOR during the latter half of 1996.
Maj Gen Coward took up the post of Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee at the MOD in London in June 1998 as a Colonel. Following attendance on the Higher Command and Staff Course in early 2000, he became Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Joint Helicopter Command at Wilton. After the brief promise of a year at RCDS, he returned to the MOD in January 2003, assuming the appointment of Director Equipment Capability (Air and Littoral Manoeuvre). In July 2005 he assumed his present appointment as Commander, Joint Helicopter Command. Maj Gen Coward enjoys downhill skiing, good wine and food and has degenerated from sports participant to spectator; he refuses to take up golf (yet). He is married to Chrissie, a teacher; their son embarked upon officer training at RMA Sandhurst in September 05.
