Rich Cantrill

Major-General Richard John Cantrill, is a senior Royal Marines officer. In 2024 he became Commander Operations, the first Royal Marine to hold the post.

Military career
Cantrill joined the Corps of Royal Marines in 1996. He was promoted to major in 2004 and, in 2008, deployed to Afghanistan as officer commanding L Company, 42 Commando. He led the company during a three-day assault on Kasnishin, a Taliban stronghold, during the deployment, for which he was awarded the Military Cross. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2010, he became Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Defence for Military Strategy and Operations, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year Honours, and was made commanding officer of 42 Commando. In 2016, Cantrill was promoted to colonel and made the chief of staff for the Commander UK Amphibious Forces.

Cantrill joined the Ministry of Defence as the Assistant Head for Counter-terrorism and UK Operations in 2018, and was appointed to command 3 Commando Brigade on 2 September 2020. In January 2024, it was announced that he would be the next Commander Operations, the first Royal Marine to hold the post, with the promotion to major general on 6 May 2024.