Cook was born in 1954. He entered the
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and, on graduation, was granted a short service commission as a
second lieutenant in the
Staffordshire Regiment on 9 November 1974. Promoted
lieutenant on 9 November 1976 and
captain on 2 December 1983, Cook trained as a parachutist and saw service in Northern Ireland during
the Troubles and in the
Balkans and elsewhere as an officer in E Squadron of the
Special Air Service. He was granted a regular commission in 1984, and awarded the
Military Cross in April 1985 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Northern Ireland". Promoted
major on 30 September 1987, Cook was appointed a
Member of the Order of the British Empire in April 1988 in recognition of further "distinguished service" in Northern Ireland. He transferred from the Staffordshire Regiment to the
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment on 4 September 1990. Cook was promoted
lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1994, and advanced to
Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his services in Northern Ireland between 1 October 1994 and 31 March 1995. He subsequently took part in
NATO operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 and was awarded a
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service. Promoted
colonel on 30 June 1998 and
brigadier on 31 December 1999 (with seniority from 30 June), Cook commanded the
20th Armoured Infantry Brigade from 1999 to 2001. He retired from the British Army on 1 June 2004. ==Director for Security Liaison==