Major David James Walker RGR – Chief of Staff Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas
Major David Walker was originally commissioned into the Territorial Army in 2006 and served with the 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland while studying at the University of Edinburgh. Following graduation, he joined the Regular Army and commissioned into The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in 2009.
He cut his teeth early as a Platoon Commander on Operation HERRICK 12 and Company Second in Command on Operation HERRICK 17. In between he deployed on overseas exercises to Canada and Kenya, commanded a training platoon at the Infantry Training Centre, and served as the Regimental Signals Officer.
Beyond regimental duty he served as a mentor at the British Army Training Unit Kenya and oversaw the OCE List as SO3 MS Op Commitments at the Army Personnel Centre.
On promotion in 2018, Major Walker served as the XO to both Edinburgh and Highland UOTCs before assignment to The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR) in Command of Delhi Company in Brunei. Here he led his Company on OTXs to New Zealand and Singapore, delivered the Regional Jungle Warfare Symposium, 1 RGR Junior Leadership Cadre, and completed the only Battalion validation exercise ever conducted in Brunei. Feeling immediately at home among the Gurkhas, Major Walker applied to transfer and now proudly wears the crossed Kukris of a Brigade of Gurkhas Officer. His current assignment as Chief of Staff of the Brigade of Gurkhas leverages his people focused style of leadership with a curiosity driven approach to change. Vital attributes at a time when Defence has called upon the Brigade to grow!
Major Walker was educated at Queen Victoria School in Dunblane and has completed a BSc (Hons) in Applied Sports Science at the University of Edinburgh where he is currently reading an MSc in Physical Activity for Health. He highly values his active lifestyle and the opportunity that the Army offers to maintain this. He keeps himself fit in order to make the most of hiking or biking in the mountains, surfing and swimming in the sea and to keep up with his Springer Spaniel!
