Thomas Copinger-Symes

Of Anglo-Irish descent, Copinger-Symes is the youngest son of Colonel Wilfred Copinger-Symes and his wife Susan née Richardson.[1][2] Educated at Pangbourne College,[3] Copinger-Symes went up to the University of Warwick, as a cadetship officer.[4]

Copinger-Symes was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1992.[5] He served as commanding officer of the 5th Battalion, The Rifles in Afghanistan from November 2011 and April 2012,[5] for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[6] He became commander of the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade in April 2014 and Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at Army Headquarters in June 2016. Copinger-Symes was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 Birthday Honours,[7] and became General Officer Commanding Force Troops Command that December.[8] He went on to be Director of Military Digitisation at Joint Forces Command in 2019.[9] In May 2022 he was promoted to lieutenant general and was made Deputy Commander of Strategic Command.[10]

As Assistant Colonel Commandant, Copinger-Symes was present at Windsor Castle in 2020 to offer the salute to The Rifles Regiment's outgoing Colonel-in-Chief, the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[11]

Copinger-Symes serves on the Advisory Board of Nimbus Ninety, the community for disruptive business and technology leaders, since 2018.[12]