Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall, KCB, CBE

Sir James Bucknall is an eminent former British Army officer whose career has spanned four decades of leadership in defence, international security and strategic planning.

Best known for his tenure as Commander of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, he led the organisation's premier high-readiness formation, often known as the "Spearhead Force", during a period of global instability.

Winchester-educated Sir James was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1978, and served in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, earning recognition for his operational acumen and decisive leadership. He commanded 39 Infantry Brigade in Belfast at a time of extreme inter-sectarian strife and was Director Counter-Terrorism at the MoD during the 7/7 London bombings.

From 2010 to 2011, he served as Deputy Commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, a force of 140,000 combat personnel, working alongside US and allied leaders during a critical phase of the campaign. In 2011, he assumed command of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, overseeing operational transformation and enhancing NATO's multinational command capabilities.

After retiring from the Army in 2013, Sir James became Chief Executive Officer of Weybourne, the family office of inventor Sir James Dyson, where he served until 2025, helping to devise, develop and direct a wealth diversification strategy and growing the the office into one of the world's biggest.

His leadership was hailed by Bloomberg, which described him as "one of the world's most respected leaders for family investment firms."

Sir James's public service and leadership are reflected in his lifelong dedication to excellence across military and civilian spheres. He continues to serve in advisory roles for a range of defence and broader commercial enterprises. He remains Colonel, Coldstream Guards, an appointment he has held since 2009, with oversight of the Regiment's serving and veterans' cohorts.