ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, ɪnðə ɹˈæŋk ʌv bɹˌɪɡɐdˈɪɹ, hiː bɪkˌeɪm ðə dᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ʌv nˈeɪvəl stˈæf dˈuːɾiz ɪnðə mˈɪnɪstɹi ʌv dᵻfˈɛns, ˈæftɚ wˌɪtʃ hiː tˈʊk ˌoʊvɚ kəmˈænd ʌv θɹˈiː kəmˈændoʊ bɹɪɡˈeɪd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn ænd dᵻplˈɔɪd tə kˈɑːsəvˌoʊ sˌiːbˌiːˈiː.
In 1997, in the rank of brigadier, he became the Director of Naval Staff Duties in the Ministry of Defence, after which he took over command of 3 Commando Brigade in 1999 and deployed to Kosovo (CBE).