Born in Glasgow, Major General Eldon Millar was brought up and educated in South India and the Scottish Highlands, graduating with an MA in International Relations before commissioning into the Royal Engineers.
At Regimental Duty he served in a wide range of roles across the Royal Engineers, latterly specialising in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), on operations in the UK, the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia and exercises around the world. Operational highlights include commanding the Joint Force EOD Group in Afghanistan and establishing the Coalition’s Counter-Improvised Explosive Device efforts in Iraq. He commanded 8 Engineer Brigade, with the aligned responsibilities as the UK’s Standing Joint Force Engineer and Commander Royal Engineers for the Field Army. In September 2024 he assumed his current role as Deputy Commander NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy, which currently leads the Allied Response Force.
On the staff he has served primarily in Joint assignments in the Ministry of Defence including with the Directorate of Strategic Plans, the Operations Directorate and in the Financial & Military Capability area. As a Colonel, he served in the Operations Directorate with responsibility for operations in Africa and as Head of the Defence Crisis Management Centre. Following brigade command, he was Head of International, Communications and Engagement for the British Army. On promotion to Major General, he served as Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (People Capability) and The Defence Services Secretary, where he represented the Armed Forces to the Sovereign. He is a graduate of the Canadian Forces’ Joint Command & Staff Programme, the UK’s Higher Command & Staff Course, both UK and NATO PINNACLE courses and the University of Oxford’s Major Projects Leadership Academy.
He is married to Ange; a ceramicist and Arts lecturer and they have two children (Ella (19) and Fergus (15)). A keen outdoorsman and ever optimistic fan of Scottish rugby, he is proud to be a Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Deputy Colonel of the Engineer and Logistics Staff Corps, President of Army Martial Arts, and a Director for Army Sport.