Major General Francis Hedley Roberton "Buster" Howes, CB, OBE (born 22 March 1960) is a former Royal Marines officer who served as Commandant General Royal Marines from February 2010 to December 2011.
Howes was educated at Christ's Hospital, a private school in Horsham, West Sussex. He studied chemistry at the University of York, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. He completed a Master of Arts degree in strategic studies at the University of London.[2][3]
Howes was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1982.[3] He became a troop commander in 42 Commando and had his first posting to Northern Ireland. After training as a Mountain Leader, he transferred to 45 Commando.[3] He served in the Gulf War while on secondment to the United States Marine Corps. He served as a planner in the Rapid Reaction Force Operations Staff of United Nations Protection Force during the Bosnian War in 1995.[3]
Howes led 42 Commando during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[2] He became Chief Joint Coordination and Effects in Headquarters ISAF in Afghanistan in 2007,[4] and Director of Naval Staff later that year.[5] He went on to be commander of 3 Commando Brigade in April 2008, Head of Overseas Operations in the Ministry of Defence in 2009 and Commandant General Royal Marines in February 2010.[3] He was Head of the British Defence Staff – US and Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2015,[6][7] and was appointed an Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2013 Birthday Honours.[8]
In June 2020, Howes was appointed Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo after having served as a non-executive director of the organisation since 2015.[9]
