Background
Leakey is the son of Rea Leakey and nephew of Nigel Leakey Venture capital.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
David Leakey
Edit ProfileEducation
Leakey was educated at Sherborne School. Having attended the Staff College, Camberley, he was promoted to major on 30 September 1984.
Career
He was Director General of the European Union Military Staff in the Council of the European Union, Brussels. In 2010 he was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. After attending the Royal Military College Sandhurst, Leakey was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 27 February 1971.
From 4 September 1971 to 1 July 1974 he was a university cadet while he read law at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge.
His commission was confirmed on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1971. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1973, and to captain on 1 August 1977.
He served in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Germany, Bosnia and in Canada in armoured vehicles and in tanks (Chieftain and Challenger). He was appointed Chief of Staff at 7th Armoured Brigade (Germany), Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff and then Commanding Officer of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.
He was promoted to colonel on 31 December 1993 with seniority from 30 June 1993.
He was then posted to the Ministry of Defence as a Colonel Military Operations. In that role, he was responsible for Operational planning and policy affecting Eastern and Western Europe. In early 1995, he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course.
In late 1995, he was the United Kingdom"s Military Representative at the peace negotiations to end the Bosnian War held in the United States.
The successful negotiations resulted in the signing of the Dayton Agreement and an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long war. He was promoted to brigadier on 31 December 1995 with seniority from 30 June 1995.
He was appointed Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade in Germany in 1996. With his brigade, he was posted to the former Yugoslavia from 21 December 1996 to 20 June 1997.
He returned to the Ministry of Defence as Director of Military Operations from July 1997 to December 1999.
In 2000, he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies. He was promoted to major general on 15 December 2001. From December 2001 to October 2004, he was Director General of Army Training and Recruiting.
On 6 October 2004, he was appointed Commander of European Union Force Althea, the European Union peacekeeping force, which replaced the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led SFOR in Bosnia and Hercegovina.
He was promoted to lieutenant general on 28 February 2007. From 1 March 2007 until 2010, he was Director General of the European Union Military Staff in Brussels.
He retired from the military on 22 September 2010. Leakey was appointed as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Lords from 21 December 2010.
Achievements
-
Born
-
Nationality
United Kingdom
Awards
-
Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Victoria Cross; Chief of Staff
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour 'in the face of the enemy' to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour 'in the face of the enemy' to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.