John Donnelly was commissioned into the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of the British Army in August 1982, and spent eleven fantastic years on Regimental Duty in Northern Ireland, Hong Kong, the Falklands, Canada, Cyprus, Belize, British Forces Germany, and Bosnia (Operation GRAPPLE 1). He served as a platoon commander, operations officer, adjutant and company commander.

He then attended the Army Staff College in 1994 and was posted to HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division (SO2 G3 Plans) for another tour to Bosnia. He went on to command C Company, 1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment, in Northern Ireland, which included three Drumcrees.

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2000, he served as a DS on the Advanced Command and Staff Course for 3 years. He then commanded 1 CHESHIRE from 2003 to 2006, and deployed on operations to Iraq (TELIC 4) and Northern Ireland (West Belfast and South Armagh). Promoted to Colonel in 2006, he spent 6 months in Afghanistan setting up a leadership training team for the Afghan National Army, before assuming the post of Colonel PS2(A).

Most recently, he was promoted to Brigadier in December 2009, at which point he took up his current post as Head of Military Liaison in the Directorate of Judicial Engagement Policy in the Ministry of Defence.

His extra-mural activities include: Vice Commodore of the Infantry Sailing Association; Deputy Colonel (Cheshire) of the Mercian Regiment; Chairman of the Cheshire Military Museum; and President of the Cheshire Regiment Association. Educated in the 'University of Life', John is a passionate offshore sailor, and is married with two teenagers, a yacht and never enough time.

(Current as of April 2010)