General Sir Geoffrey Hugh Whitby Howlett, KBE, MC (5 February 1930 – 21 April 2022) was a senior British Army officer who was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe.

Military career

Educated at Wellington College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Howlett was commissioned into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1950. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1952.

In 1971 Howlett was appointed Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and in 1975 he was made Commander of 16th Parachute Brigade. He was General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division from 1979 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1982 to 1983 when he became GOC South East District. He was made Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe in 1986; he retired in 1989.

Howlett was Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1983 to 1990.

He died on 21 April 2022, at the age of 92.

Military offices
Preceded byRichard LawsonGOC 1st Armoured Division 1979–1982Succeeded byBrian Kenny
Preceded byRichard VickersCommandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 1982–1983Succeeded byRichard Keightley
Preceded bySir Richard TrantGOC South East District 1983–1985Succeeded bySir Michael Gray
Preceded bySir Richard LawsonC-in-C Allied Forces Northern Europe 1986–1989Succeeded bySir Patrick Palmer