Michael von Bertele

Major General Michael James von Bertele CB, OBE, QHS (born 23 August 1956) is a retired senior British Army officer. From 2009 to 2012, he was Director General of the Army Medical Services.[1][2]

Michael von Bertele
Born (1956-08-23) 23 August 1956
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1976–2012
RankMajor General
Service number502799
Commands heldDirector General Army Medical Services (2009–12)
Joint Medical Command (2008–09)
Commander Medical 3rd (UK) Division (1996–98)
British Medical Battalion, United Nations Protection Force (1993)
5th Field Ambulance (1992–93)
Battles/warsFalklands War
Gulf War
United Nations Protection Force
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Early life

Von Bertele was born on 23 August 1956. He is the son of Otto Bertele von Grenadenberg and his wife Monica von Bertele (née Barrett). He was educated at the all-boys St Mary's Grammar School, Darlington. He worked as a drayman for Schwechat Brewery in Vienna from 1974 to 1976.[2] Married Frances Loudon, younger daughter of Dr and Mrs Joe Loudon in April 1985, two daughters born 1987 and 1989 and one son born 1992.

Military career

On 24 September 1976, von Bertele was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps as a second lieutenant (on probation) (Medical Cadetship). He was given the service number 502799.[3] He went on to study medicine at the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff, Wales. He graduated with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BCh) in 1979.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant (on probation) on 12 July 1979.[4] He then underwent further medical training for a year as a Pre-registration house officer.

On 1 August 1980, his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to captain.[5] Between 1980 and 1983, he was a Medical Officer in one of the Parachute Field Ambulance's.[2] He was a member of a surgical team at Ajax Bay and was attached to the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment for the assault on Mt Longdon during the Falklands War of 1982.[6] In 1983, he began practising aviation medicine.[2] He was promoted to major on 1 August 1985.[7] He was awarded a Diploma in Aviation Medicine in 1986.[2]

He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 August 1992.[8] He then became Commanding Officer of the 5th Field Ambulance. In the same year, he was awarded Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (MFOM).[2] From April 1993 to November 1993, he commanded the British Medical Battalion of the United Nations Protection Force in the former Republic of Yugoslavia.[2][9] Between 1996 and 1998, he was the Commander Medical 3rd (UK) Division.[2]

In 2000, he graduated from the Royal College of Defence Studies.[2] He was promoted to colonel on 1 August 2000.[10] From 2001 to 2003, he was Colonel of Employment Policy (Army).[2] He was promoted to brigadier on 5 December 2003.[11] He then joined the Ministry of Defence as Director of Medical Operational Capability from 2004 to 2006.[2] On 2 October 2006, he was promoted to major general and appointed Chief executive of the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency.[12] He was appointed Commander Joint Medical Command in 2008. In 2009, he was appointed Director General Army Medical Services.[2]

He retired from the British Army on 25 December 2012 and was then appointed to the Reserve of Officers.[13]

Later life

Following his retirement from the British Army, von Bertele joined Picker Institute Europe as Chief executive.[14] It is a 'not-for-profit organisation that makes patients' views count in healthcare'.[15] He resigned from the company in March 2013.[16] From 2013 he served as Humanitarian Director for Save the Children International.

In 2015, World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan appointed von Bertele as member of the Advisory Group on Reform of WHO's Work in Outbreaks and Emergencies with Health and Humanitarian Consequences.[17]

Honours and decorations

On 26 April 1994, von Bertele was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "in recognition of distinguished services in the former Republic of Yugoslavia during the period April 1993 to November 1993".[9] He was appointed Honorary Surgeon to The Queen (QHS) on 10 March 2008.[18] In the 2012 Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[19] In 2013 he was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians FRCP.

References
  1. "No. 60255". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 September 2012. p. 16942.
  2. "von BERTELE, Maj. Gen. Michael James". Who's Who 2012. A & C Black. December 2011. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. "No. 47061". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 November 1976. p. 15066.
  4. "No. 48001". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 November 1979. p. 14237.
  5. "No. 48386". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 December 1980. p. 16707.
  6. "Tuesday June 8, 1982". The Red and Green Life Machine – A Diary of the Falklands Field Hospital. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  7. "No. 50244". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 September 1985. p. 12107.
  8. "No. 53008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 August 1992. p. 13141.
  9. "No. 53653". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 April 1994. p. 6167.
  10. "No. 55935". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 8 August 2000. p. 8748.
  11. "No. 57142". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 December 2003. p. 15487.
  12. "No. 58113". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 2006. p. 13441.
  13. "No. 60383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 2013. p. 206.
  14. "von BERTELE, Maj. Gen. Michael James". Who's Who 2013. A & C Black. November 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  15. "Our mission and values". Picker Institute Europe. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  16. "Dr Michael von Bertele resigns as CEO of Picker Institute Europe". Picker Institute Europe. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  17. Members of the Advisory Group on Reform of WHO’s Work in Outbreaks and Emergencies with Health and Humanitarian Consequences World Health Organization.
  18. "No. 58675". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 April 2008. p. 6162.
  19. "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 2.
Military offices
Preceded by
Major General Alan Hawley		 Director General Army Medical Services
2009–2012		 Succeeded by
Major General Ewan Carmichael


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