Speakers

Born in Yorkshire, Brigadier Carter went to school at Woodhouse Grove School in Bradford and studied Medicine at the University of Dundee, during which he commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps. Trained as a General Practitioner, he served three tours as a Regimental Medical Officer; with the 8th Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment in Armagh, The King’s Royal Hussars in Tidworth and on Loan Service in Southeast Asia with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and in Squadron Command on Op TELIC in Iraq.

In 2008, Brigadier Carter was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Clinical Unit, embedded within the National Health Service University Hospital Birmingham, where he was responsible for the clinical and welfare support of returning wounded during the most intense period of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2011, he assumed the role of SO1 Medical Operations at the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters, and then, in 2013, took command of 5 Armoured Medical Regiment in Afghanistan on Op HERRICK. He deployed in command again in 2014 on Op GRITROCK to Sierra Leone, where the Regiment, working alongside the Sierra Leone Armed Forces and Ministry of Health, supported the UK Government’s response to the West Africa Ebola Outbreak. As a result of its work in Africa, 5 Armoured Medical Regiment was awarded the 2014 Firmin Sword of Peace.

Promoted to Colonel in 2015, Brigadier Carter relinquished unit command and deployed as the first British Officer to serve as Director Medical Support with the US-led Special Operations Joint Task Force (Operation INHERENT RESOLVE), for which he was awarded the US Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He returned to the UK as Commander Medical, HQ 1 (UK) Division where he developed a new approach to Health Threat Assessment for Defence Engagement. Following a short period at the Army Personnel Centre, Brigadier Carter then moved to Headquarters Defence Primary Healthcare; first as Chief Operating Officer, and later, on promotion to Brigadier in January 2021, as Commander. This period was characterised by significantly improved care quality, judged by external Care Quality Commission reports, and the management of the COVID-19 in Defence whilst supporting the NHS (Op RESCRIPT); ensuring continued support for Force Generation throughout. From August 2024, he has been Head of Army Health in Army Headquarters.

Brigadier Carter is married to Anna, head of Biology at a secondary school in Staffordshire. They have two children who have now left school and are making their own way in the world. Brigadier Carter enjoys the theatre and is a former trustee of the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield. He is currently a Commissioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. In April 2022 Brigadier Carter was appointed as Colonel of the Royal Army Medical Corps and, on amalgamation, he was appointed as Colonel of the Royal Army Medical Service. He is a graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course and the Royal College of Defence Studies. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of St John by His Majesty the King in April 2023 and an Honorary Physician to the King in July 2024. He holds Masters Degrees in Public Health and Defence Studies.