Commander

Brigadier Simon Wolsey is the Commander of 2 (South East) Brigade, an appointment he assumed in June 2010. As Commander he is responsible for the delivery of military capability, recruiting, community engagement activity and influencing infrastructure support for the military, in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, in order to meet Commander Regional Forces' operational requirements.

Brigadier Wolsey entered Sandhurst in 1980 and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery. He served with the airborne forces before reading for an degree in American Studies at Nottingham University. After that he served as a Naval Gunfire Forward Observer with the 3 Commando Brigade. Selected for staff training in 1993, he graduated with a Master of Military Studies degree and was then appointed to a post within the MOD.

He took command of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery in 2002 and immediately deployed with the Commando Brigade to Afghanistan on Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2003 he deployed to Iraq for offensive operations on Operation Iraqi Freedom, for which he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

In 2004 he was posted to the US Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he graduated in 2005 with a Master of Strategic Studies degree and then spent 7 months in US Central Command as Chief of Staff to the Senior British Military Adviser. He worked in the Pentagon from 2006 to 2008 and most recently with the US led Multi National Force Iraq for which he was awarded the US Legion of Merit.

Deputy Commander

Colonel Peter Gilbert assumed the appointment of Deputy Commander and TA Colonel 2 (South East) Brigade in July 2010. He is the Brigade Commander's principal advisor on TA matters. His responsibilities include visiting the units under command of the Brigade to monitor and report on strength, training and morale. He works with the Commander Regional Recruiting to maximise TA recruitment. He oversees the Military Secretariat (MS) processes for TA officers in the Brigade area and units under command. He is vice chair of TA MS Review Boards and chairs TA related selection boards. He is a member of the South East Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (SERFCA) Board and County Committees for Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

Colonel Gilbert joined the TA in South Wales in 1976. Very soon after commissioning into the Royal Artillery he took up a military sponsorship through medical school and completed a Short Service Commission with the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1982 to 1989. He served as a Regimental Medical Officer in Germany and the UK. He spent 4 months in the Falkland Islands, mainly on the isolated island of South Georgia, and 2 years on "loan service" training the Medical Service of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. On leaving the Regular Army Col Gilbert returned to the TA with 220 (1st Home Counties) Field Ambulance in Maidstone. Having been a Squadron Commander and the Unit Second in Command he commanded the Field Ambulance from 1996 to 2000 when it was absorbed into the newly formed 4th Medical Regiment as a Medical Squadron. During a period with the Nationally Recruited Army Medical Services TA he mobilised for Op TELIC 1 and served with 202 Field Hospital in Kuwait and 4 Medical Regiment in Iraq. Col Gilbert transferred to 256 (City of London) Field Hospital in 2004, and took command in August 2006. His time in command was dominated by preparation for the Unit's deployment to Afghanistan from October 2009 to January 2010, during which he was the Commander of the UK Hospital in Camp Bastion. In civilian life Colonel Gilbert is a General Practitioner in Rochester

Chief of Staff

Major James Askew is the Chief of Staff of 2 (South East) Brigade, an appointment he assumed on 11 July 2011.  As Chief of Staff he commands the Brigade Headquarters in support of the Brigade Commander and is responsible for coordinating staff effort in pursuit of the Brigade's key outputs, notably support to operations, training, recruiting, cadets, community engagement, information management, budgets and standards.

Deputy Chief of Staff

Major Andrew Hodkinson is the Deputy Chief Of Staff (DCOS) of 2 (South East) Brigade, his main responsibilities are to oversee the personnel and administration, facilities management (soft and hard), health and safety and equipment support branches in the headquarters.