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Deployments in the Persian Gulf
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Below are brief biographies on the senior British commanders involved in Operation Telic, the name given to the British contribution to the coalition forces.

Air Marshal Brian Burridge

Command: Burridge is the overall commander of the U.K. National Contingent and is the deputy commander-in-chief of Great Britain's Strike Command.

Years of service: Burridge joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1967.

Previous commands: Burridge previously was the officer in command of the RAF's air defense, maritime, and search and rescue forces. He also served as commander of the Joint Services Command & Staff College.

Regional headquarters: Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar

Official Web site external link



Rear Admiral David Snelson

Command: Snelson is the commander of the Royal Navy's forces in Operation Telic.

Years of service: Snelson joined the Royal Navy in 1969.

Previous commands: Upon promotion to rear admiral in November 2002, he was named commander of the U.K. Maritime Forces and the Anti-Submarine Warfare Striking Force. He previously was commander of U.K. Maritime Operations in the Middle East, and also commanded both the destroyer HMS Liverpool and aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

Regional headquarters: Manama, Bahrain

Official Web site external link



Maj. Gen. Robin Brims

Command: Brims is commander of all the land-based forces in Operation Telic and is the commander of the 1st Armoured Division in November 2000.

Years of service: Brims was commissioned into the British Army's Light Infantry in 1970.

Previous commands: Headed the Multi-National Division (South West) in Bosnia. He also commanded the Light Infantry's 3rd Battalion in Germany and Belfast, Northern Ireland, and commanded the 24th Airmobile Brigade, which deployed to Bosnia as part of the U.N. Rapid Reaction Force in 1995.

Regional headquarters: Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar

Official Web site external link



Air Vice-Marshal Glenn Torpy

Command: Torpy is commander of all air forces in Operation Telic.

Years of service: Torpy joined the Royal Air Force in 1974 after studying aeronautical engineering at Imperial College, London.

Previous commands: Named Air Officer Commanding 1 Group in March 2001, he previously commanded RAF Bruggen in Germany and served as director of air operations for the British Ministry of Defense. During the 1998 strike on Iraq known as Operation Desert Fox, he served as the assistant chief of staff for operations. He has piloted both the Jaguar and Tornado GR1 fighter/reconnaissance aircraft.

Combat experience: Torpy saw active service with the RAF's 13th Squadron during the Persian Gulf War.

Regional headquarters: Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar

Official Web site external link

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