Permanent Joint Headquarters

Permanent Joint Headquarters
Active	1996–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy British Army Royal Air Force
Type	Command
Part of	Joint Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	Eastbury, Hertfordshire
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General John Lorimer

The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) is the British tri-service headquarters from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. It is situated at Northwood Headquarters in Northwood, London. The Permanent Joint Headquarters is commanded by the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO). The current CJO is Lieutenant General John Lorimer.

History

The Permanent Joint Headquarters was established in April 1996 to enhance the operational effectiveness and efficiency of UK-led joint, potentially joint and multi-national operations, and to exercise operational command of UK forces assigned to multinational operations led by others.

Mission and duties

The PJHQ's mission is as follows:

"CJO is to exercise operational command of UK forces assigned to overseas joint and combined operations; and to provide politically aware military advice to the MOD in order to achieve MOD UK’s strategic objectives on operations"

PJHQ also directs British forces in Gibraltar, Cyprus (Sovereign Base Areas), the Falkland Islands (British Forces South Atlantic Islands) and Diego Garcia.

There are certain areas that the headquarters was not and will not be involved in:

• Strategic Nuclear Deterrent
• Defence of the UK Home Base, Territorial Waters and Airspace
• Northern Ireland
• Counter-terrorism in UK (Home Office)
• NATO Article V (General War) (NATO Military Command Structure)

the Permanent Joint Headquarters

Commanders

The Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) is the appointment held by the 3*-ranked Officer that headed the PJHQ. The CJO is responsible for the planning and execution of UK-led joint, potentially joint, combined and multi-national operations.

April 1996	Lieutenant General	Sir Christopher Wallace
February 1999	Vice Admiral	Sir Ian Garnett
August 2001	Lieutenant General	Sir John Reith
26 July 2004	Air Marshal	Sir Glenn Torpy
March 2006	Lieutenant General	Sir Nicholas Houghton
13 March 2009	Air Marshal	Sir Stuart Peach
December 2011	Lieutenant General	Sir David Capewell
January 2015	Lieutenant General	John Lorimer

External links

• Permanent Joint Headquarters – on Ministry of Defence official website
• Permanent Joint Headquarters – on Royal Navy website