Jeremy Mackenzie

General Sir Jeremy John George Mackenzie, (born 11 February 1941) is a retired senior British Army officer who served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1994 to 1998. Mackenzie was born in the Kenya Colony and, after attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, joined the British Army's Queen's Own Highlanders. He became battalion commander in 1980 and a brigadier in 1984, commanding the 12th Armoured Brigade. In 1989 he was promoted to major-general and commanded the 4th Armoured Division and then the 1st (British) Corps. In 1992 he became the first commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and was promoted to general in 1994. He retired in 1999.

Early life Mackenzie was born on 11 February 1941 in Nairobi, Kenya, the son of Lieutenant Colonel John W.E. Mackenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was educated at the Duke of York School, Nairobi and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. and posted to the 1st Battalion in Singapore. He took part in putting down the Brunei Rebellion in 1962 and later served in a training capacity with the SAS. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion in 1980. He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in December 1991.

In 1992 he formed the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps and became its first Commander. He was also given the colonelcy of the Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) from 1994 to 2001.

He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1999, having previously been awarded the US Legion of Merit twice in 1997 and 1999, the Czech Republic's Cross of Merit First Class, and the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in 1998. He was also an Aide de Camp General to the Queen from 1992 to 1996, and a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. He retired from the army in 1999. and chairman of AC Cars (a car manufacturer). He also became a director of Blue Hackle (a security business).

Private life He married Elizabeth Lyon (née Wertenbaker) and has a son and a daughter.