Lieutenant General Pat Nash (Operational Commander EUFOR Chad & CAR)
Military Service
Lieutenant General Pat Nash was commissioned into the Cavalry Corps in September 1966. From commissioning up until 1994 he spent most of his service in the Southern Command, holding both command and staff appointments in a number of Cavalry and Infantry Units.
On promotion to Colonel in June 2000 he was appointed Director of Defence Forces Administration, responsible for the planning and implantation of Defence Forces Personnel Administration programmes, Defence Forces Financial planning and Defence Forces Logistics planning.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in January 2002 and appointed to the position of General Officer Commanding, 1 Southern Brigade. On 3 December 2005 Major General Nash took up the appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, he has responsibility for Defence Forces Operations including overseas operations, Defence Forces Training and Reserve Forces and Military Intelligence. In October 2007 Lieutenant General Nash took up the appointment of Operational Commander of the upcoming EUFOR Chad & CAR operation and is currently based in the Operational HQ in Paris.
Overseas Service
Lieutenant General Nash has a wide range of overseas experiences primarily with United Nations Forces, but also with the European Union Monitoring Mission in the Western Balkans. He has served as a Troop Commander in United Nations Force in Cyprus in 1967. He was a Company Commander with the 54 Irish Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon in 1983 and Operations Officer with the 71 Irish Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in 1992. In 1996 he served as a Staff Officer at the Headquarters of the European Union Monitoring Mission in the Western Balkans. In 1999 he commanded the 85 Irish Infantry Battalion in UNIFIL (Lebanon).
Education
Lieutenant General Nash received his secondary education at CBS Limerick. He is a graduate of the Irish Defence Forces Command and Staff School and he has completed a United Nations Senior Management Course in Stockholm and New York.
Marital Status
Born in Ahane, Co. Limerick, Lieutenant General Nash lives in Cork City with his wife Deirdre. They have three sons, Alan and Gary (twins), and Kieran.
Interests
Lieutenant General Nash is a keen golfer and is a member of Cork Golf Club. He played hurling for Ahane and Limerick, rugby for Fermoy, Mallow and Garryowen, and maintains an active interest in both sports.