Adrian Bradshaw

General Sir Adrian John Bradshaw, (born 1958) is a former British Army officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He also served as Director Special Forces from 2006 to 2009 and Commander Land Forces in 2013.

Early life Bradshaw was educated at Bloxham School, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Reading in 1979, and obtained a Master of Science degree in Defence Studies in 1991 as well a Master of Arts degree in International Relations in 2005, both from King's College London.

Military career Bradshaw was commissioned into the 14th/20th King's Hussars in 1980. In 1994 he became commanding officer of the King's Royal Hussars, commanding the KRH Battlegroup in Bosnia. On promotion to brigadier, he became senior advisor to the Combined Forces Air Component Command preparing for the invasion of Iraq. He was Deputy Commander of Task Force West during the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and took charge of the 7th Armoured Brigade during the initial stabilisation operations in April 2003, By 2006 he was Director Special Forces.

Bradshaw was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2009 New Year Honours and, that March, was appointed General Officer Commanding 1st (UK) Armoured Division He became Deputy Commander International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and United Kingdom National Contingent Commander in Afghanistan in the rank of lieutenant general in November 2011.

Bradshaw assumed the role of Commander Land Forces in succession to General Sir Nick Parker in January 2013. He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2013 Birthday Honours, and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Nick Carter as Commander Land Forces in November 2013.

Bradshaw was promoted to general and appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe on 28 March 2014. As of 2015, Bradshaw was paid a salary of between £170,000 and £174,999 by the department, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time. He retired on 12 August 2017.

Bradshaw held the honorary position of Regimental Colonel of the King's Royal Hussars from 2017 to 2022. In 2022 Bradshaw was granted permission to wear the insignia of a Commander of the Order of the Crown, which had been conferred on him by the King of Belgium.

Later career In 2017, Bradshaw joined the Blesma, The Limbless Veterans Board of Trustees and was elected Chairman. In the same year, he was Vice-Chairman of the Combined Services Polo Association.

On 7 June 2018, during the annual Founder's Day Parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, it was announced that Bradshaw would become the new Governor of the Hospital in September 2018, succeeding General Sir Redmond Watt.