Nicholas Charles Laybourne Perry

Lieutenant General Nicholas Charles Laybourne Perry, (born 1972) is a British Army officer. He was Chief of Joint Operations from November 2024 to July 2026, and before that served as Assistant Chief of the General Staff between 2021 and 2022, and then as Director Special Forces. He will become Commander of Joint Force Command (JFC) Norfolk in September 2026, taking up the role on promotion to general.

Early life and education Perry was born in 1972, the son of Richard Laybourne Perry and his wife Susan Margaret Cave-Browne. He was educated at Ampleforth College, then an all-boys Catholic boarding school.

Military career On 12 September 1992, Perry was commissioned into the Royal Hussars, British Army, as a second lieutenant (on probation) as part of being sponsored through university on an undergraduate cadetship. After completing his degree and further training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, his commission in the King's Royal Hussars was confirmed on 10 September 1995 with seniority in the rank of second lieutenant from 7 February 1993. He was also promoted to lieutenant on 10 September 1995 with seniority in that rank from 7 February 1995.

He served as Chief of Staff for Task Force Helmand in winter 2010, and was then made commander of 22 SAS Regiment in 2012. He became military advisor to the Prime Minister in 2015. He went on to be commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade in 2017, Assistant Chief of the General Staff in March 2021 and Director Special Forces in 2022. He was promoted to lieutenant general on 15 November 2024, as he was appointed Chief of Joint Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters.

In July 2026, it was announced that Perry would be the next Commander Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk), taking up the appointment in September 2026. He will also be promoted to general. and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his service in Afghanistan in 2010.