The Colonel Comes to Talk on Leadership

Colonel Lucy Giles is coming to speak to the Wincanton Museum and History Society in January.  Her topic is “Leadership, A Perspective” and this will be a great opportunity to hear how she has had such an interesting, demanding and distinguished career in the Army.  As this summary shows, it has been anything but ordinary.

Brought up in Bayford where her father Marcus (now retired) was a well know local vet, Lucy went to school at King Arthur’s before doing her A levels at Sexey’s in Bruton. This was followed by a degree at Exeter University. 

In 1992 she was commissioned and as an officer in the newly formed Royal Logistic Corps she was posted to serve in Germany, the UK, South Africa, Bosnia, East Timor and Sierra Leone.  She then attended the Staff College from 2001-2003. This involved gaining a Masters Degree and completing the Advanced Command and Staff Course.  She was then posted to HQ Northern Ireland.

She then commanded 47 Air Despatch Squadron enabling operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world. She also led a training sub-unit prior to her appointment as an instructor at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in 2011. Here she focussed on command, leadership development and management and military ethics. She also gained a teaching qualification (PGCE) in 2013.

As a Lieutenant -Colonel She was then appointed Commander of New College Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2015, this being the first time a female officer had been appointed to such a senior post.

In 2018 she was promoted to Colonel and is now President of the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury.  She is also married and has two children and enjoys drama, singing and orienteering.