Charles Collins (British Army officer)

Lieutenant General Sir Charles Collins KBE DSO
Collins in 2022
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Years of service	1995–present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Home Command Assistant Chief of the General Staff 1st (United Kingdom) Division 7th Infantry Brigade 5th Battalion, The Rifles
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant General Sir Charles Seymour Collins, KBE , DSO is a senior British Army officer, who currently serves as Commander Home Command.

Military career

Collins was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1995. ^[1] He was appointed commanding officer of the 5th Battalion of The Rifles in 2012 and was deployed in that role to Afghanistan. ^[1] He went on to be commander of 7th Infantry Brigade in 2014 and was then Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans) at Permanent Joint Headquarters in 2018 before becoming General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division in September 2020. ^{[1] [2]} He became Assistant Chief of the General Staff in 2022, ^[3] and was appointed Commander Home Command with the promotion to lieutenant general on 4 September 2023. ^[4]

Collins was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Birthday Honours, ^[5] and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his service in Afghanistan on 25 March 2011. ^[6] He was advanced to Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 3 July 2015 ^[7] and to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2025 Birthday Honours. ^[8]

He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Cambridge University Officers′ Training Corps on 1 June 2024, ^[9] and a Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General's Corps on 28 November 2024. ^[10]

References

1. "Do Not Take Leadership for Granted: An Interview with Major General Charlie Collins". The Army Leader. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
2. "No. 63125". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 September 2020. p. 16374.
3. "Organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries". 30 June 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
4. "No. 64162". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 September 2023. p. 17681.
5. "No. 59446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2010. p. 5.
6. "No. 59737". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 2011. p. 5640.
7. "No. 61284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 2015. p. 12288.
8. "No. 64759". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2025. p. B6.
9. "No. 64412". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 2024. p. 10721.
10. "No. 64584". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 December 2024. p. 24504.

Military offices
Preceded by Colin Weir	General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division 2020–2022	Succeeded by Jean Laurentin acting
Preceded by Nick Perry	Assistant Chief of the General Staff 2022–2023	Succeeded by Paul Griffiths
Preceded by Ian Cave	Commander Home Command 2023–present	Incumbent