Maj. Gen. Ollie Kingsbury commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1997. He served most of his early years with 2 PARA, with a tour as ADC to GOC Northern Ireland.
After a year as a company commander in 1 PARA, he attended the US Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies in Fort Leavenworth. He was appointed brigade Chief of Staff in 19 Light Brigade, deploying to Helmand in 2009. He returned to Afghanistan for his third tour in 2010, commanding C Company 3 PARA, again in Helmand. He promoted to Lieutenant Colonel for 2 ½ years as SO1 in Joint Forces Command’s Joint Warfare Directorate.
Kingsbury commanded 2 PARA from 2013 to 2016. The battalion was held at very high readiness in 16 Air Assault Brigade, and deployed on exercises in Germany, Corsica, Kenya and the US.
He promoted to Colonel in February 2016, serving in HQ Field Army’s Warfare Branch, and promoted to 1* as the UK DCG in the 82nd Airborne Division in August 2017. He assumed the role of Head Warfare Development in the Land Warfare Centre in July 2019, and attended the Higher Command and Staff Course. In August 2023, he promoted to 2*, as DCG-Maneuver in the US Army’s V Corps, based in Poland.
He has deployed on operations in Northern Ireland, Macedonia and Afghanistan. He was appointed MBE in 2009 and OBE in 2013.
Kingsbury is married to Lauren, and they have six children; the eldest has flown the nest, two are in university and three still at school. He skis, climbs and sails, enthusiastically if not skillfully, although hobbies are mainly on hold until the children stop spending all his money. He is an ever-hopeful Norwich City, Bath and England fan, and spends much of his free time chasing his
lurcher dog.