On commissioning into the Royal Signals in 1994, Maj Gen Robin Anderton-Brown was posted to HQ 4 Armoured Brigade and deployed on UN and NATO led operations in Bosnia. In the rank of Captain he served as Operations Officer in 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron in support of 5 Airborne Brigade; Adjutant at 2 Signal Regiment and as the G3 Plans Staff Officer with 12 Mechanized Brigade.
On promotion, he completed an MA in Defence Technology followed by the Advance Command and Staff Course (ACSC) at Shrivenham. His initial SO2 Staff tour was within the MoD Head Office Capability Directorate, with responsibility for a number of the Defence’s core telecommunication systems including FALCON. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 with 16 Air Assault Brigade in command of 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron and returned for a second tour in 2008.
On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he was part of a small UK contingent based in Washington embedded within a US cross-government assessment team working for US Central Command. He subsequently returned to the MoD Head Office as the Military Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Capability).
After Regimental Command, and in the rank of Colonel, he attended the Higher Command and Staff Course and took post as the Deputy Head for Joint Forces Command C4ISR Joint User with responsibilities for Defence C4ISR Policy and Force Development.
On promotion to 1 Star rank, he commanded 11 Signal and West Midlands Brigade; comprised of 11 Regular and Reservist Regiments, the Brigade provided Communication Information Systems (CIS) for the Army’s deployable formations – from Division to Brigade, UK National Communications and he was the Joint Military Commander for the West Midlands. He then took post as the Head of Capability for Special Projects within Joint Forces Command in August 2017.
Promoted to Major General in September 2020, he become the Director for the Multi-Domain Integration Change Programme within UK Strategic Command, prior to taking post as the Director of Capability for UK Strategic Command from March 2021.
A champion of sport within the military, Maj Gen Anderton-Brown is the Chair of the Royal Signals Games Club. He is a keen fencer, having competed at Combined Services level, though involvement now is in his capacity as President of the Army Fencing Union.