Commander Cyber & Specialist Operations Command

Commander of Cyber & Specialist Operations Command
Incumbent General Sir James Hockenhull since May 2022
Ministry of Defence Cyber & Specialist Operations Command
Type	Four-star officer
Status	Chief of Joint Forces
Member of	Defence Council Chiefs of Staff Committee
Reports to	Chief of the Defence Staff
Nominator	Secretary of State for Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister (subject to formal approval by the King-in-Council )
Formation	April 2012 (as Commander, Joint Forces Command) December 2019 (as Commander, Strategic Command) September 2025 (as Commander, Cyber & Specialist Operations Command)
First holder	Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach
Deputy	Deputy Commander UK Strategic Command

Commander of Cyber & Specialist Operations Command is a high-ranking position in the British Armed Forces, usually held by a four-star officer. The commander is the head of Cyber & Specialist Operations Command, which manages allocated joint capabilities from the three armed services.

Responsibilities

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command develops and coordinates joint capabilities for UK Defence, such as medical services, intelligence, support and logistics, digital and communication systems, cyber, special forces, training and education, and UK overseas bases. It also manages overseas military operations through the Permanent Joint Headquarters. ^[1]

Commanders

No.	Portrait	Commander	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch	Ref.
1		Peach, StuartAir Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach (born 1956)	December 2011	April 2013	1 year, 4 months	Royal Air Force	[2]
2		Barrons, RichardGeneral Sir Richard Barrons (born 1959)	April 2013	April 2016	3 years	British Army	[3]
3		Deverell, ChristopherGeneral Sir Christopher Deverell	April 2016	May 2019	3 years, 1 month	British Army	[4]
4		Sanders, PatrickGeneral Sir Patrick Sanders (born 1966)	May 2019	May 2022	3 years	British Army	[5]
5		Hockenhull, JamesGeneral Sir James Hockenhull (born 1964)	May 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 4 months	British Army	[6]

References

1. "General Sir Jim Hockenhull KBE ADC Gen". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
2. RAF Air Rank Appointments List 07/11 retrieved 1 December 2011
3. "New senior military officers appointed". Inside Government. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
4. "The Secretary of State announces new Senior Appointments in the Armed Services". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
5. "No. 62635". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 May 2019. p. 8120.
6. "Chief of Defence Intelligence and Commander of Strategic Command". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 10 June 2022.