Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley, an accomplished military leader, author and academic was yesterday, Thursday 14 July 2011, awarded with an Honorary Fellowship of Aberystwyth University.
Jonathon Riley joined the Army in 1973 and has dedicated his life to a career in the military, retiring from active service in 2009 when he took up the appointment of Director General and Master of the Royal Armouries.
In recognition of his role within the Army, Lieutenant-General Riley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for bravery and distinguished conduct in the Balkans in 1995. He was made an Officer of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America in 2004 and was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in the New Year’s Honours, 2008. In December 2009 he received the NATO Meritorious Service Medal from the Secretary-General.
An accomplished author, Lieutenant-General Riley has fourteen published works which include several military histories.
Lieutenant-General Riley is married to the Welsh writer and broadcaster Sara Edwards and, when not working, they live in Carmarthenshire.
Lieutenant General Jonathon Riley was be presented by Professor Martin Alexander from the Department of International Politics at 3.00 p.m. on Thursday 14 July.
He is one of seven Fellows to be honoured by Aberystwyth University during the 2011 Graduation Ceremonies which take place on 12, 13, 14 and 15 July.
Professor Martin Alexander from the Department of International Politics said:
President: it is my privilege and pleasure to present Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.
Jonathon Riley joined the Army in 1973 and was commissioned the following year. Since then he has served peacetime tours of duty in Britain, the USA, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Kenya and Cyprus. He taught at Sandhurst from 1984-1986, attended the Army Staff College, Camberley, as a student in 1987, and taught there in 1993. He was the Deputy Commandant of the Joint Services Staff College, responsible for the Higher Command and Staff Course – the senior course in the college – as well as all courses for Army students, from 2001 – 2003. He has been Chief of Staff of an armoured brigade and an armoured division.
On operations, Lieutenant-General Riley has served six tours in Northern Ireland, one in Central America, five in the Balkans; one in Sierra Leone; two years in Iraq and a year in Afghanistan. He has commanded on operations in every rank, including as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers in Goražde, 1995; Commander 1 Mechanized Brigade in Bosnia in 1998, Deputy Commanding General Multi-national Division (South-West) in Bosnia, 1998–1999; Deputy Commanding General, Coalition Military Advisory and Training Team, Iraq, 2003–2004; Commanding General, Multi-national Division (South-East) and General Officer Commanding British Forces Iraq, 2004–2005. He is one of a small number of British Officers to have commanded a tri-service Joint Task Force on operations, which he did in Sierra Leone in 2000–2001. In these operations, he has had the privilege of commanding not only British troops, but also troops from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Italy and Sierra Leone. He became Senior British Military Adviser to United States Central Command in August 2005. Lieutenant-General Riley served as Deputy Commander of NATO ISAF in Afghanistan from October 2007 to December 2008. In June 2009 he took up the appointment of Director General and Master of the Royal Armouries.
Lieutenant-General Riley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, for bravery and distinguished conduct in the Balkans, in 1995. He was made an Officer of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America in 2004. He was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in the New Year’s Honours, 2008. He received the NATO Meritorious Service Medal from the Secretary-General in December 2009.
Lieutenant-General Riley holds the degrees of BA (Geography) from University College London; MA (History) from the University of Leeds; and PhD (Modern History) from Cranfield University. He is a visiting professor in Military History at the King’s College London, a member of the Council of the Royal United Services Institute, and the Chairman of the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum and Archive Trust.
He has fourteen published works including several military histories: “Soldiers of the Queen” (1993), “White Dragon” (1995), “The Royal Welch Fusiliers, 1945 – 2000” (2001), and “That Astonishing Infantry” (2008); and four studies of command including “From Pole to Pole” (1987); “Napoleon and the World War – 1813” (2000), “The Life and Campaigns of General Hughie Stockwell” (2006), “Napoleon as a General (2007)”, “Decisive Battles” (2009), “Up to Mametz ….and Beyond” (2010) and most recently “A Matter of Honour” (2011).
He is married to the Welsh writer and broadcaster Sara Edwards; when not working, they live in Carmarthenshire.
