Promoted to colonel on 30 June 2004, he was appointed Secretary of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in 2005 before being deployed to Afghanistan in early 2007 and being advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services there.
Promoted to colonel on 30 June 2004, he was deployed to Afghanistan as Director Plans and Policy within the Combined Forces Command Afghanistan during that year. He was appointed Secretary of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in 2005 before being deployed to Afghanistan again in early 2007 and being advanced to Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services there.