General Sir ‘Roly’ Walker was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1993. He commanded the Grenadier Guards in 2009, promoting to the General Staff four years later.

He has commanded at company, battle group, and brigade levels, variously in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as joint command of global operations. On the Staff he has served in brigade, divisional, army and strategic HQs.

He was the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy & Operations) at the MOD from April 2021, during which time he was responsible for advising on and directing new operations to support the government’s response to Covid, the death of the late Duke of Edinburgh, the withdrawal from Kabul, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II and coronation of King Charles III, numerous evacuation operations and most recently the Hamas attacks on Israel. In December 2023 it was announced that General Walker was to be appointed as the new Chief of the General Staff, succeeding General Sir Patrick Sanders. He assumed the appointment on 15 June 2024.

He was made a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in 2023, and a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 2010. General Walker is the President of the Honourable Artillery Company, Army Rugby and Army Winter Sports.