Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans in December 2021. In this role he works with Western Balkans leaders and others to support and strengthen regional stability.
Previously Sir Stuart was the 32nd Chairman of the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); the most senior and longest standing military structure in the Alliance.
He attended the University of Sheffield (BA), University of Cambridge (MPhil in International Law and International Relations), RAF Staff College and the Joint Services Command and Staff College (HCSC). He holds four honorary Doctorates from UK Universities: Hull, Kingston, Sheffield and Loughborough, in Technology and Letters (DTech, DLitt).
He was Director General Intelligence Collection in the Ministry of Defence 2003 to 2006 and Chief of Defence Intelligence and Deputy Chairman of the UK Joint Intelligence Committee 2006 to 2009. He held the appointment of Chief of Joint Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) from March 2009 to December 2011, commanding all UK Force Elements in support of NATO operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
He was then the first Commander of the UK Joint Forces Command from December 2011 to April 2013. He was Vice Chief of the Defence Staff from May 2013 to May 2016. He was Chief of the Defence Staff from July 2016 to June 2018 and assumed the role of Chairman of the Military Committee of NATO in June 2018, his fourth four-star appointment.