Past Event

Major General Duncan G Forbes

15 April 2024

We are pleased to be joined by Major General Duncan G Forbes, Director of Strategy and Policy and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, on Monday 15th April for a dinner event at Hilton Hotel, Cardiff. This event is kindly sponsored by RFCA for Wales.

Duncan Forbes joined the Royal Marines in September 1999 after studying Law and French Language at Glasgow University. Following training, he served with Plymouth-based 42 Commando and deployed to Sierra Leone, South Armagh and Iraq as a subaltern. A series of training and mentoring jobs then followed – recruits at the Commando Training Centre, Iraqi Officer Cadets at the fledgling academy in Baghdad with NATO, Royal Marine Reservists in Scotland, and then finally Afghan soldiers in Helmand Province with 45 Commando, re-rolled as Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams.

After Initial Command and Staff Course (Land), he joined 40 Commando, in Taunton, serving as their Operations Officer and then commanding Alpha Company. During this time, the unit conducted various amphibious deployments, jungle training in Brunei, and operations in Sangin - the last UK battlegroup to do so prior to handing over to the United States Marine Corps.

Following Advanced Command and Staff Course, during which he completed an MA in War Studies from King’s College London, Duncan worked as a desk officer within the Financial Military Capability directorate during the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review with a remit for Joint Warfare, and then as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of State for Defence.

He commanded 45 Commando between 2017-19, where the focus was on building up for and assuming responsibilities as the Lead Commando Unit. On promotion to Colonel, he served with the Royal Navy’s 2* contingent battlestaff, COMUKSTRFOR, as their Chief of Staff, before attending the Higher Command and Staff Course. Duncan returned to London in May 2021 as Head of the Naval Staff where he supported the Royal Navy’s international and domestic engagement, strategy development, and broader policy work. Following command of 3 Commando Brigade RM, he promoted to Major General in March 2024 and assumed the role of Director Strategy and Policy, and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff.

Duncan is married to Emma, who splits her time between being a senior Procurator Fiscal and academia. They have two boys at secondary school in Glasgow.

This event is open to members and non-members for booking. The event will start at 18:00 with a drinks reception, the lecture will start at 18:45 and the dinner will take place from 19:45-21:30.

We do hope you can join us.