Andrew Ritchie

Major-General Andrew Stephenson Ritchie, CBE (born 30 July 1953) is a retired British officer and former Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was Director of Goodenough College, London. Early life Ritchie was born on 30 July 1953 in London, England. He is the son of Dilys (née Stephenson) and Canon David Caldwell Ritchie. He was educated at Harrow County Boys' School until 1971. While serving in the British Army, he was able to attend the University of Durham between 1975 and 1978, where he gained a third-class degree in Law and Politics. Military career Ritchie was commissioned into the Royal Artillery on 10 March 1973 as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant on 10 March 1975, and to captain on 10 September 1979. He saw service in Belize, Rhodesia, Northern Ireland and West Germany from 1974 to 1984. Having attended the Staff College, Camberley, he was promoted to major on 30 September 1985. He then was posted to the Ministry of Defence in 1986–1987 before joining the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, with which he served in Germany, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom from 1988 to 1990. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1990. He was Director of Army Plans from 1990 to 1992, then commanded the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery from 1992 to 1995. He was promoted to colonel on 30 June 1995. He saw service in Bosnia from 1995 to 1996. He was promoted to brigadier on 31 December 1996 with seniority from 30 June 1996, before taking the Higher Command and Staff Course in 1997. He was Director of Personal Services (Army) from 1998 to 2000 and was at the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2001, then was Director of Corporate Communications (Army) in 2001–2002. On 1 April 2002, he was promoted to major-general and appointed General Officer Commanding the 4th Division. He served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 5 January 2003 to 2006. He retired on 1 August 2006.