Oliver A. Lee

Colonel Oliver Andrew Lee, OBE is a former senior Royal Marines officer and subsequently chief executive.

Oliver Lee
Lee addressing staff at The Challenge in 2019
BornBirmingham, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Marines
Years of service1996–2014
RankColonel
Commands held45 Commando
Battles/warsThe Troubles
Bosnian War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Alma materCambridge University

Early life and education

The eldest child of six children, Lee was brought up in Birmingham.[1][2] He was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham,[3][4] and Jesus College, Cambridge.[2]

Career

Lee undertook Royal Marines officer training in 1996, winning the sword of honour and commando medal.[2] He subsequently served in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.[2][5] He also worked in the private office staff of the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, from 2000 to 2002 and defence minister Bob Ainsworth from 2007 to 2009.[2] He commanded 45 Commando[6] on Operation Herrick 14 in Afghanistan in 2011,[2][7][8][9] during which he was promoted to full colonel, the youngest since the Second World War.[2][3][10]

In 2013 Lee resigned from the Royal Marines on principle over the Sergeant Blackman (Marine A) Helmand Province Killing.[2][11][12][10][13] He gave evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice in 2017, where Blackman's original conviction of murder was reduced to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.[2][14][10][15]

Lee has since spoken strongly against any form of immorality on military operations, battlefield atrocities in particular.[16] [17]Concurrently, he has been a powerful advocate for Afghan people who supported the coalition forces in the country. In 2021, following the fall of Kabul to the Taleban, he was reunited after ten years with his interpreter who had fled to the United Kingdom from Afghanistan with his family.[18]

On leaving the Royal Marines, Lee became chief executive of The Challenge, a large social enterprise delivering residential courses for teenagers to improve their understanding of others and their preparedness for adult life.[2][19][20]

In 2022 Lee became chief executive of Places Leisure, a 6000-plus people, non-dividend company, dedicated to enabling health and fitness in more active communities.[21]

In July 2023, Lee delivered a tribute in Westminster Abbey at the Memorial Service for Admiral of the Fleet Lord Boyce. [22]

Honours

Lee was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in Iraq in 2003.[5] He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2007,[23] and then advanced to Officer of the Order of the British Empire for service in Afghanistan in 2012.[24][25]

Personal life

Lee's father, His Honour Judge Malcolm Lee QC, died of a heart attack in 1999 whilst serving as the Birmingham Mercantile Judge.[1] His brother, Adrian, died of suicide in 2003.[26]

Lee is married with two children.[2]

References
  1. "Judge dies on tennis court. – Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  2. Simon, Akam (2021). The Changing of the Guard. Scribe.
  3. Layton, Josh (2015-09-11). "Alexander Blackman jail row – Birmingham-educated colonel quits in protest". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  4. "Biennial Dinner 2014". www.oldeds.kes.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  5. "Page 4 | Supplement 57100, 31 October 2003 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  6. "Royal Marine 'bully' claim at RM Condor investigated". BBC News. 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  7. "45 Commando build on the peace in Afghanistan". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  8. "'Our real success is that all of us are going home'". www.standard.co.uk. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  9. "Former Royal Marine reunited with Afghan interpreter after decade apart and escape from Taliban". Channel 4 News. 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  10. "Alexander Blackman's company was out of control, claims former comrade". the Guardian. 2017-03-15. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  11. "War, justice and the real story behind 'Marine A'". British GQ. 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  12. Reporter, Sean O’Neill, Chief. "Top brass were warned about 'out of control' Marine unit". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-09-25.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "Marine A: missed warnings and a lack of leadership – the untold story of Sgt Blackman's unit". Channel 4 News. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  14. "Judges quash UK marine Alexander Blackman's murder conviction". the Guardian. 2017-03-15. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  15. "Blackman, R. v [2014] EWCA Crim 1029 (22 May 2014)". www.bailii.org. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  16. "Panorama review — a relentless investigation into SAS 'death squads'". The Times.
  17. "SAS repeatedly killed Afghan detainees".
  18. "Former Royal Marine reunited with Afghan interpreter after decade apart and escape from Taliban".
  19. Newsdesk (2019-03-13). "Ten years of The Challenge". Charity Today News. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  20. L, Edward; er. "Craig Morley steps down as chief executive of The Challenge". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  21. "Oliver Lee OBE joins Places Leisure as the new CEO".
  22. "Thanksgiving service: Admiral of the Fleet Lord Boyce". The Times. 14 July 2023.
  23. "Marines officer gets MBE honour". 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  24. "Operational Honours and Awards List: 23 March 2012". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  25. "LEE, Oliver Andrew | ͏". www.commandoveterans.org. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  26. Lord, Craig (2014-06-04). "Interview with Georgina Lee". The Times.
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