Brig Gen Gerard Buckley who has recently taken up the position of the Military Representative to the European Union and NATO PfP, was commissioned into the Artillery Corps in 1983.
Military Service
Thereafter he has held a broad range of appointments within the Corps. He hass also held appointments at Brigade and Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) Levels, gaining a breadth of experience in operations, strategic planning, logistics and financial spheres. Most recently he has served as the Defence Forces Director of Combat Support and ISTAR with additional responsibility for the Reserve Defence Forces. Previously he served as the Director of Joint Logistics, supporting Defence Force operations, across all services, at home and overseas. This appointment was proceeded by a number of years as the Defence Forces J8 (Finance).
Overseas Service
Brig Gen Buckley has extensive overseas experience, operating across a broad spectrum of security environments with a range of security actors. These deployments include conflict prevention and peacekeeping with the United Nations, crisis management with NATO, post conflict resolution with OSCE and security sector reform with the EU. These experiences include three tours of duty in UNIFIL, initially within Irish Batt and most recently, a year as Chief of Special Staff to the Head of Mission and Force Commander, while also holding the post of Senior Irish Officer UNIFIL. He has also served as an UN Military Observer in UNPREDEP in Northern Macedonia, with OSCE Mission HQ in Bosnia, ISAF HQ J35 Branch in Kabul, and a year as Mission Chief of Staff of EU Training Mission Somalia, while it transitioned into Mogadishu.
Education
He holds a primary degree from the National University of Ireland in Galway, and a master’s degree from the National University of Ireland in Maynooth. Brig Gen Buckley is a graduate of the National Command and Staff College. He also holds a certificate in Strategic leadership, a Defence Force senior leadership initiative.
Personal
A native of Valentia Island, Co Kerry, but a long term resident in Mullingar, he is married to Emer, they have a daughter, Moya who is studying in Dublin. He enjoys a wide range of sports, which include golf and gaelic football.
