SMI Debbie Callaghan, County Media Officer, Greater Manchester ACF
On Saturday 12 March our Commandant, Col Catherine Harrison, welcomed the new Commander North West Region, Col Darren Doherty, to Holcombe Moor Training Camp.
Col Doherty was welcomed at the camp entrance by Major Tasker who walked with Col Doherty through to the main building, stopping briefly to say hello to some of the cadets and of course having a quick photo taken with them.
Col Doherty met with Col Harrison and her Senior Leadership team. First was coffee and biscuits and then a very informative presentation about Greater Manchester ACF was given by Col Harrison, with Col Doherty asking lots of questions.
After the presentation Col Doherty went out on the area to meet and chat with cadets and adult volunteers ending his visit having some lunch in the cookhouse.
Colonel DP Doherty is the new Commander North West Region.
Colonel Darren Doherty was born in California in 1969 but brought up on the slightly less sunny Lancashire coastline. After a period of soldier service, he commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in August 1993.
At regimental duty he has filled a range of infantry appointments including platoon and rifle company commander, operations officer, and adjutant and within the recruiting and training organisation he has been an infantry recruit instructor, Sandhurst company commander and from 2010-13 he commanded the Army’s recruiting operation in the South of England.
His staff appointments have included secondment to a UK Government department leading a counter-terrorism investigation team, three jobs within the Army’s Headquarters - with welcome operational tours in between - in the equipment, logistics and plans areas, and within the UK Ministry of Defence where he led on Reserve Forces mobilisation policy and commitments. From 2016-18 he was ACOS Operations of the French Rapid Reaction Corps and from 2018-2021 the UK’s Defence Attaché to Ireland. He is Deputy Colonel and a Trustee of The Royal Irish Regiment. He assumed command of the British Army’s North West Region, with Firm Base responsibilities across Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, in December 2021.
Colonel Doherty has trained worldwide and served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen and Afghanistan. He is married to Julie, a primary school teacher. His interests include the great outdoors, fly fishing, whippets, fine art and - as a throwback to his roots - surfing and stand-up paddle boarding.
For pictures please click here
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