Chris Haw is the SRO of the Commando Force (CF) Programme a holistic transformation of the way 3 Cdo Bde’s warfighting Commandos are structured, trained and equipped to conduct contemporary and future operations, alongside allies and partners. He is responsible for a Defence Major Programme for equipment delivery as part of Navy Acquisition but spans across Develop, Personnel and Training, Force Generation and Operate pillars of the RN and manages over 90 dependencies across Army and UKStratCom.

He joined the Royal Marines in 1996 and has been privileged to spend much of his career in command serving in 3 Cdo Bde, often within Mountain Leader specialisation. He commanded the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (now SRS) in Iraq and Afghanistan. At CTCRM he commanded Royal Marines Initial Officer Training and later was the CO of Command Wing, with a particular focus on the development of ethical education for commanders. At OF5 he commanded 47 Commando Raiding Group, responsible for the RM specialist small boat and landing craft capability and was Deputy Commander of 3 Cdo Bde as OF5 ‘Commander Land Forces’ and FDev lead for the implementation of the CF CONEMP. Most recently he was Commandant CTCRM, responsible for all Phase 1 – 3 training in the RM, perpetuating the Commando ethos and delivering operational capability to 3 Cdo Bde and the wider RM Corps.

His operational experience includes tours of Northern Ireland (2000), Iraq (TELIC 1 2003) where he was awarded the Military Cross, and Afghanistan in 2002 (JACANA) and 2009 (HERRICK9). His staff experience at OF4 includes Chief of Staff Land and Littoral Strike, involved in the Joint Theatre Entry Study and National Security Capability Review, and Amphibious Warfare head within the staff of the Commander Littoral Strike Group, including a number of major deployments onboard the Fleet Flagship. At OF3 he completed tours at the 2* Amphibious HQ COMUKAMPHIBFOR, the Navy Command HQ in Commitments and as Capability Sponsor in MoD Whitehall responsible for an Information Exploitation Urgent Operational Requirement Programme.

He is a graduate of the first Intermediate Command and Staff College (Land) and the Advanced Command and Staff College. His qualifications include a BSc with Honours from Loughborough University and an MA from King’s College, London. He is an alumnus of the Windsor Leadership Trust. He has been married since 2004 and has two young children. He is Director of the Inter-Services Snowsports Championships, a passionate Telemark skier, at which he has represented the RN, and is a keen mountaineer and cyclist.