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Major General Peter Rowell MBE
Commandant and Chief Executive,
UK Defence Academy
Raised by women in a warzone. Failed A-level student. Immigrant. These labels have been applied to me; but do not tell the full story.
My natural interests are people, ideas and planning. I have been shaped most by the people I have encountered, and I am indebted to them. My Christian faith provides the foundation for my values and being respectful to others is central to how I view the world. I enjoy kayaking and cycling. I love watching rugby and drinking good coffee to complement great conversation.
Major General Rowell left Zimbabwe at 18 to join the British Army and was later commissioned into the Royal Engineers. He has led engineering operations—including construction and combat roles—on four continents and was awarded an MBE for his service in Afghanistan as deputy chief of staff for 4th Mechanised Brigade.
His staff roles have focused on innovation and emerging technologies, including robotics and autonomous systems. As a brigadier, he was Head of Profession for the Royal Engineers and Commandant of the Royal School of Military Engineering, overseeing training for around 10,000 personnel and managing a major public-private partnership.
Most recently, he led the Concepts and Force Exploration team at the UK’s Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre, shaping future defence policy and capability planning. Since May 2024, he has served as Commandant and Chief Executive of the Defence Academy of the UK, where he leads global defence and security education
My natural interests are people, ideas and planning. I have been shaped most by the people I have encountered, and I am indebted to them. My Christian faith provides the foundation for my values and being respectful to others is central to how I view the world. I enjoy kayaking and cycling. I love watching rugby and drinking good coffee to complement great conversation.
Major General Rowell left Zimbabwe at 18 to join the British Army and was later commissioned into the Royal Engineers. He has led engineering operations—including construction and combat roles—on four continents and was awarded an MBE for his service in Afghanistan as deputy chief of staff for 4th Mechanised Brigade.
His staff roles have focused on innovation and emerging technologies, including robotics and autonomous systems. As a brigadier, he was Head of Profession for the Royal Engineers and Commandant of the Royal School of Military Engineering, overseeing training for around 10,000 personnel and managing a major public-private partnership.
Most recently, he led the Concepts and Force Exploration team at the UK’s Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre, shaping future defence policy and capability planning. Since May 2024, he has served as Commandant and Chief Executive of the Defence Academy of the UK, where he leads global defence and security education
Sessions
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10-Sep-2025Naval ForumTraining and Education - Opportunities for the future Integrated Force
