David Eastman (British Army officer)

Lieutenant General David James Eastman, is a senior British Army officer. He served as General Officer Commanding Regional Command from February 2020 to July 2022, and in June 2024 was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the General Staff.

Military career
Eastman was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1989. After serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, 16 Air Assault Brigade from 2005 to 2006, he became commanding officer of 2 Close Support Battalion REME. Eastman was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in December 2006, for services during the first UK deployment to Helmand Province. He went on to be commander of the 102nd Logistic Brigade in September 2015, and Head of Military International Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Defence in May 2017.

Eastman was promoted to the substantive rank of major general on 14 February 2020, on appointment as General Officer Commanding Regional Command and Commander, Cadets. He temporarily held the appointment of Commander Standing Joint Command (UK) from 25 May to 7 September 2020 at the height of the pandemic. In September 2022, he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Capability and Force Design).

In June 2024, Eastman was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff, on promotion to lieutenant general. Eastman has been Master General REME since 1 April 2023. He is also the Colonel Commandant of Royal Corps of Army Music and the Staff Corps.