Ewan Carmichael Major General Ewan Blythe Carmichael is a senior British Army officer . Since September 2012 , he has been Director General of the Army Medical Services . Military career . On 1 August 1980 , Carmichael was commissioned into the Royal Army Dental Corps as a second lieutenant ( on probation ) . He was given the service number 510595 . This was part of his dental cadetship whereby he was sponsored by the British Army during his university studies . He achieved his Bachelor of Dental Surgery ( BDS ) in 1982 from University of Glasgow . Following this , his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to captain on 14 July 1982 . He was then posted to the Headquarters and Training Unit RADC in Aldershot Garrison , Hampshire to complete his training . On 14 July 1984 , he transferred from a short service to a regular commission . He was posted to 16 Field Ambulance in 1984 . In 1987 , he attended the Junior Command and Staff Course at the Staff College , Camberley . He was then promoted to major on 14 July 1987 , and posted to 4 Armoured Field Ambulance as a squadron commander . Between 1990 and 1991 , he was posted to Iraq as part of Operation Granby , the British military operations during the First Gulf War . From 1991 to 1993 , he was posted to Northern Ireland in the mostly clinical role of Senior Dental Officer . In 1994 , he entered the Staff College , passing in 1995 . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 14 July 1995 . He was posted to attached to the Army Medical Directorate . He was appointed Commanding Officer of 16 Close Support Medical Regiment in 1999 . He was deployed to Bosnia in 2000 and to Macedonia in 2001 . Upon returning from Macedonia , he was once posted to the staff of the Army Medical Directorate . In late 2002 or early 2003 , he was appointed Commander Medical of 3 ( UK ) Division . He was promoted to colonel on 14 July 2003 . From June to December 2003 , he was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Telic . His role during that time was as Commander Medical for Multinational Division ( South East ) , making him the most senior medical officer in Southern Iraq . In 2010 , he was called as a witness in relation to the death of Baha Mousa that occurred during this tour . As Commander Medical he was in charge of the medical supervision of all detainees . However , he personally had no contact with Baha Mousa and only knew of his death upon being asked to refer his death to the Royal Military Police for investigation . In 2004 , he was appointed Chief of Staff at the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency . He was promoted to brigadier on 30 June 2006 . In December 2006 , he was appointed Commanding Officer of 2 Medical Brigade . In June 2009 , he returned once more to the Army Medical Directorate as Director of Medical Plans ( Army ) . On 31 August 2012 , he was promoted to major general and appointed Director General Army Medical Services . Honours and decorations . Following his service in Northern Ireland from 1991 to 1993 , Carmichael was awarded the General Service Medal . He was awarded the Gulf Medal , the campaign medal for Operation Granby . He was awarded the Iraq Medal , the campaign medal for Operation Telic . In the 1991 Queen ' s Birthday Honours , he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire ( MBE ) . In March 1997 , he was appointed Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John ( OStJ ) . On 19 March 2012 , he was appointed Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Queen ( QHDS ) .